May 2018

May 2018

Only $3.95

TSFMAG.COM

TIDE PREDICTIONS & SOLUNAR FEED TIMES INSIDE!

NEWGO NET

STOW &

For

SPECIAL DEALS Like us on

facebook

Telescoping handle and folding net ring make for easy storage and transport

May 18th – 19th South Padre Island, TX

Deluxe

24 CLASSIC

raised Console

The ALL NEW Deluxe Raised Console system from Shallow Sport Boats adds a fresh, cleaner look to the Classic, Sport, Mod-V, and X3 Models.

larger back cushion

Rear live-well/cooler

Riser footprint takes up 20% less deck space which means more room for you to ďŹ sh!

Ask your local Shallow Sport dealer about the Deluxe Raised Console system!

Front Live-well/cooler More walk around space

Radius corners

www.shallowsportboats.com

King Starboard Hatches

1 # 1

#

w w w. w a y p o i n t m a r i n e . c o m

USA Dealer 2017

USA Dealer 2017

Factory Certified Service

361-651-BOAT (2628)

3033 S. Padre Island Drive

Corpus Christi, Texas

N I W NO

!

T R O P K C

RO

1 # 1

#

USA Dealer 2017

USA Dealer 2017

POnTOOns

361-727-BOAT (2628)

971 S.H. 35 Bypass

Rockport, TX 78382

ABOUT THE COVER Marisol De La Garza is this month’s cover angler, showing off a saddle-blanket flounder from the Lower Laguna Madre.

Marisol is as hardcore as they come, fishes year ‘round, and certainly knows how and where to target flatfish!

MAY 2018 VOL 28 NO 1

CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 Positive Energy 16 We Can’t Tell 22 Bodie Goes To England: Part X 26 So, you’re thinking of hiring a guide…

32 Artificial Reefs Expand

38 Let’s Ask The Pro 42 Shallow Water Fishing 46 TPWD Field Notes 50 Fly Fishing 54 Kayak Fishing Chronicles 58 TSFMag Conservation News 62 Fishy Facts 68 Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes 72 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

78 Plastic & Water Don’t Mix 101 Science & the Sea

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard

38

32

WHAT OUR GUIDES

HAVE TO SAY

86 88 90 92 94 96 98

Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The Buzz on Galveston Bay The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene

94 6 | May 2018

Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS 8 Editorial 82 New Tackle & Gear 100 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 104 Catch of the Month 106 Gulf Coast Kitchen

106

Jay Watkins Scott Null Danielle deVacque Scott Sommerlatte Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Curtiss Cash Eric Ozolins Everett Johnson UT Marine Science Institute

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com CIRCULATION SUBSCRIPTION – PRODUCT SALES Vicky Morgenroth Store@tsfmag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT Stephanie Boyd Artwork@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly.

Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy) Subscription $25.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year.

Order on-line: WWW.TSFMAG.COM MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue.

Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.

HOW TO CONTACT TSFMAG: PHONE: 361-785-3420 FAX: 361-785-2844 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 WEB: www.TSFMAG.com PHOTO GALLERY: photos@tsfmag.com PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.

EDITORIAL

So Long Dear Friend

Dear friend and longtime contributor to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Billy Sandifer, passed away March 30, 2018. I doubt anybody will ever replace him. I say this not only for his great respect for nature and deeds in marine conservation, but equally because the hardscrabble upbringing that forged him hardly exists anymore.

You could say he was orphaned when his mother abandoned three-yearold Billy and his infant brother to the care of grandparents who scratched for a meager living on a small farm near Agua Dulce.

Billy’s adolescent years on the farm produced a tough kid who hopped a bus to Montana with only the clothes on his back to punch cows and ended up serving multiple tours for Uncle Sam in Southeast Asia.

Thousands of US servicemen were exposed to a dangerous defoliant called Agent Orange during that conflict; Billy was one of them and suffered greatly from it as he aged.

Billy returned home a troubled young man, but it was no longer home.

Today it’s called PTSD. In his own words, he simply did not fit anywhere in society. The best he could do was try to survive on the fringe.

The ragged fringe for Billy was down the Padre Island National Seashore where he camped for nearly two years in solitude, except for a friend named Decker. Billy and Decker both suffered drug and alcohol addiction during that time, trying to escape reality.

Decker didn’t survive. Billy was dragged off the beach suffering severe

bronchial pneumonia and placed in a Corpus Christi hospital. Billy overcame pneumonia and whipped his addictions cold turkey.

Billy’s life was never one of comfort or leisure. He worked variously as a bouncer in a biker bar, on Gulf shrimpboats, and cast-netted mullet to sell to bait camps in the off-season. He lived under the SPID causeway bridge for a time in an old Cadillac automobile.

Billy had an enormous passion for shark fishing. He made a pact with “Brother Shark” during a dangerous encounter with a great hammerhead, “I vowed if you do not kill me I will no longer kill you.” And he stuck by it. His love of the sea and fishing eventually led him to become a fishing guide.

Beginning as both a bay and beach guide, he eventually concentrated on the beach despite nearly starving, because it satisfied his soul in a way the bay could not.

Billy leaves two great legacies. The Big Shell Beach Cleanup and a metamorphosis of shark fishing mentality in Texas. Billy never sought fame or accolades. In his own words, “I started the Big Shell Beach Cleanup simply because nobody else cared enough to do it.”

His mentoring and conservation leadership in shark fishing spawned a generation of catch-tag-release anglers who continue to live by his teachings. His shark tooth necklace a vivid reminder of his old ways.

So long dear friend. If there is an eternal reward for conservation deeds well done, I pray you are enjoying it.

TEXAS SHALLOW WATER HEADQUARTERS

GCMBOATS.COM Shallow Stalker

4120 HIGHWAY 6 HITCHCOCK, TX

281-779-0500

8 | May 2018

10121 S. PADRE ISLAND DR. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

361-937-7800

STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

Small slicks like the ones that popped up in front of Shane Lykke at our first stop of the morning gave us a lot to look forward to! They didn’t disappoint!

I

t’s 2:00 AM and I’m wide awake, even though my alarm is set for 4:00. I frequently hear stories from friends and relatives who work shifts at the local plants, how difficult it is to get adjusted when changing work schedules. I’m coming off a 9-day run in which I fished five noon to dark trips, two early mornings and two afternoon trips - in that order.

As I write this, a late cool front is due to push through, which will alter patterns yet again. The fluctuating water temperatures, tide levels and sudden wind shifts can make catching a difficult task if you don’t stay on your toes. To add to the level of difficulty, our bay has recently experienced the appearance of incredible numbers of shad and glass minnows. While this abundance of forage is a very positive thing, trying to trick trout when they’re feeding on shad the size of your thumbnail will have you casting in your sleep. As frustrating as this may sound, tough times can greatly increase one’s fishing IQ, which will enable even more productive days when conditions improve – especially when you keep a positive attitude during the process.

On a tough spring day several years ago, I had a client from the Midwest compare catching trout to trying to dupe muskies. He said they often referred to them as “the fish of a thousand casts.” I don’t know if I would go quite that far when referring to specks, but transitional trout can damn sure test one’s mental fortitude.

Tenacity, awareness and stamina are a few words that come to mind when it comes to transforming challenging days on the water into fruitful endeavors. The good news for many is that the inconsistent days of March and April will be over by the time the May issue of this fine magazine hits newsstands. By then, the transition from winter to spring will likely be over until next year. Bays will then be filled with mullet, larger-sized shad, brown shrimp and glass minnows. We will then be on our way to more predictable trout patterns.

Despite facing adverse conditions at times, I truly believe that by staying motivated and always maintaining a positive attitude will not only increase your odds of having a more successful day on the water but through every facet of your life as well. This is true in any profession you choose. The benefits are many when your attitude is in the right place. It will also usually cause those who are around you to perform better.

I used to play a lot of golf back in the days when I had more time. I almost always shot better when playing with guys who not only had better God-given skills but radiated positive energy over the course of 18 holes. The ones who were much better than me (which were most of them) were willing and eager to teach as well. This made me a better golfer.

This same sense of selflessness and real-time tutoring parallels what we try to do with clients on our fishing charters. So much of this fishing game is mental. A little taste of success can result in achieving even more with every cast. Once you discover a way to trick your target species, confidence increases to the point where you’ll expect bites with every cast. You will actually visualize strikes or blow ups.

I witnessed this the other day with one of my clients. We were standpoint is enough to send my confidence level through the roof. I wading alongside a slight trough leading up to a reef when beautiful love always having something to look forward to! small slicks began to emerge. This occurred at the onset of a midday Early May will provide us with many options. Working shorelines and minor feeding period, which also happened to be during a tide flats lined with scattered shell and grass will be a solid strategy on the change. Hopefully this doesn’t sound like bragging, but I found my breezy days. Mid-bay reefs will reward us on the calmer days. Slicks, bait rhythm rather quickly with solid trout and redfish coming to hand about every third or fourth cast.

My client, however, struggled to get bit. After discussing the situation with regard to how our fish were reacting to a certain retrieve method, along with the proper cast angle and a few other details, he finally caught one. He then tricked another and found his groove. His confidence was restored and the rest is history.

For years I’ve heard folks talk about the “magical 70⁰ water temperature” but until it gets there and stays there there’s nothing really magical about it. When forage species increase in size and water temperatures STAY in the seventies, good things will begin to happen with regularity.

Consistent warmer water temperatures increase gamefish metabolism which requires more frequent feeding to sustain necessary energy levels. With trout becoming more active more often and forage species growing to a larger size, actual “schooling” will occur as opposed to the spread out and random transitional behavior that we experience Clayton Schavarda is always happy regardless during the two months leading up to May. Knowing Clint O’Neal with a quick of results but catching a 4 lb. flounder to start photo before the release. what this natural progression will offer us from a catching his day was a nice way to break the ice!

This monster jackfish gave Don William’s Waterloo HP Lite a workout! I had fun watching!

12 | May 2018

Always gratifying to let future trophy trout swim away.

Sharon Lykke had to hold on tight when this red slammed her Hunchback!

Joe Mire’s persistence and upbeat attitude rewarded him with this 27 ½ inch 8 ½ pound red on a tough day.

Sustain is packed with a long list of high-end features which translates to serious performance. From bass to small billfish, Sustain is built with the power and rigidity to handle a wide variety of fishing challenges while maintaining the refinement and light rotation that Sustain is known for.

Features • 9+1 Bearings • Retrieve Range 37-41 (in) • 8.3 - 10.6 WEIGHT RANGE (oz) • Front Drag • 20-24 (lb) Drag Power Range

For serious inshore saltwater fishing action, the all-new Twin PowerXD Spinning reels offer new X-Protect for best-in-class water resistance, Fuse that with Shimano's ultra-durable HAGANE gear and you've got a reel with overwhelming power, durability and reliability, designed to tackle any situation in any conditions.

Features • KeyFeature : X PROTECT • Ball Bearings : 8+1 • Roller Bearings : 1 • Maximum Drag (lb) : 20-24 • Retrieve Per Crank Range (in) : 35-41 WWW.FISHINGTACKLEUNLIMITED.COM

RELOCATED 12800 Gulf Fwy Houston, TX 77034

281-481-6838

10303 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77024

713-827-7762

13831 Southwest Fwy Sugar Land, TX 77478

281-201-2141

Timely rainfall has contributed to abundant shad hatches. Every canal, bay and back lake is filled with these small “button shad”! (Photo by Clint O’Neal)

concentrations and color changes are always aspects to focus upon, whether we’re wading or staying in the fiberglass.

After a few months of going back and forth between topwaters, tails and MirrOlures, our bait choices will more often be narrowed to include only soft plastics and topwaters. Waking baits such as Strike Pro’s Hunchback will work great at times too. I’ve had days when I could hardly buy a bite on surface plugs or tails but the erratic wobbling action and loud rattle of the Hunchback would entice aggressive strikes.

On a side note, make sure to change out the factory treble hooks on the Hunchback as they typically won’t last more than four or five trips. I prefer replacing them with VMC 4X Strong O’Shaugnessy No. 2 trebles (model # 9626PS).

One of my favorite things about this month is the fact that every angler in just about every part of our 600 square mile bay can spread out and catch fish in a variety of ways.

There will be fish at the passes, on the shorelines, on mid-bay reefs, and under birds for all to enjoy. Those who prefer better quality fish will target coves and passes along shorelines as well as oyster reefs, while anglers just out to get a bunch of bites will work gulls and terns over shrimp. The jetties and beachfront will also produce fantastic results when conditions allow. And don’t forget about schooling reds in the back lakes.

Regardless of how good or bad the fishing is, there is always something to be gained from the experience. I continue to be intrigued by the behavioral shifts of our fish during these seasonal changes. Just being able to be on the water is a gift from God in itself.

By learning to soak in every ounce of what’s happening around us while maintaining positive energy we will achieve more. Those with whom we come into contact will benefit, which will in turn reward us with gratification. Then the cycle will continue to repeat – Hopefully!

CONTACT

STEVE HILLMAN

14 | May 2018

Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures.

Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com

Any fish hooked on the side of the body like this trout will feel strange and strong to the angler who snags it.

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

S

potted seatrout and red drum often share space in the same parts of Texas estuaries.

Any angler with more than a few trips under the belt knows this. Many of these same people believe they can tell which of the two species they’ve hooked once a fight begins. In my experience, making this determination can prove difficult at best; sometimes, we just can’t tell a trout from a redfish until we see the specimen.

Sure, sometimes the call comes easy, when the fish jumps out of the water, revealing its shape and colors, or when the revolutions of the reel easily skim a dink trout across the surface. We don’t confuse small trout with redfish, since they can’t pull with the same strength as the bronze bullies of the flats. The mystery starts when we hook a fish possessing more strength than any small trout could.

Trophy trout enthusiasts like me regularly hook redfish instead of the desired specimen. In some situations, intelligently targeting large trout requires one to fish in places where redfish outnumber them significantly. On knee-deep, muddy, grassy flats in late-winter and early-spring, for instance, mature trout and upper-slot redfish often gather in close proximity to one another. In such cases, culling through numbers of the copper-colored drum can increase the odds of hooking one of the dappled, silver objects of our obsession.

Savvy trout hunters play all the heavy fish they hook with careful deliberation, until they can verify the species, knowing such a plan increases their odds of safely landing a monster trout, assuming they share one important belief with me. Putting too much pressure on the fish in an effort to shorten the fight increases the odds of an outcome which won’t allow the angler to land the fish, determine the species and take accurate measurements and documentary photos. Particularly when fishing with artificial lures carrying multiple treble hooks, fighting a trophy trout too aggressively generally causes the fish to react by pulling harder and shaking its head more vigorously, sometimes resulting in freeing itself from the hooks.

On the other hand, once a trophy trout enthusiast can verify the identity of the fish as undesired by-catch, which many of us perceive red drum to be, at least when we’re on a trophy trout mission, we want to reduce the length of time we’re entangled with the specimen, so we can return to our quest. This relates to the absolute truth I recently elaborated in the pages of this magazine— you can’t catch one fish while fighting another. Trophy trout anglers know this and want to rid themselves of the pesky reds they hook.

TSFMAG.com | 17

Let me acknowledge a few facts related to the differences in the ways speckled trout and redfish bite and fight. I know subtle differences do exist. Having caught many members of both species, I have direct knowledge of these details.

Depending on the type of lure deployed, trout and redfish do generally strike in different ways. Most likely, this relates to the anatomical design of the fish. While both species find their prey through multiple means, including sight, smell and the detection of motion and vibrations, they are not built in exactly the same way. A trout has a bigger mouth, set on the center line of its body’s horizontal axis, whereas a redfish’s smaller mouth rides below its body’s center line.

The consequence of this fact as it relates to the way the fish strike becomes most apparent when anglers use floating plugs to target them. In order for a redfish to take a topwater in its mouth, it must rise out of the water to strike. This can allow the angler to see what they’ve hooked from the moment of the onset of the fight. Trout can and will make a noisy splash when they take topwaters too, but sometimes they just pull them under without much of a fuss. The big ones do this more often than the little ones, probably because they have wider mouths which allow them to do so more easily.

Because of these basic differences in the attack modes used by trout and redfish, figuring out which species has taken a topwater can prove simple at times. When the lure deployed does not ride on the surface, making the same determination usually becomes much more difficult, though the two species do normally strike in perceptibly different ways.

In my experience, most of the time a redfish strikes a sub-surface lure, I feel two or more taps, rather than just one. Most of the time, I feel just one thump when a trout snaps at such a plug. Additionally, Trophy trout anglers regularly hook redfish instead of trout.

18 | May 2018

redfish tend to strike while on the move more often, causing the tip of the rod to move laterally when they do. Trout, especially large ones, more often take a lure by flaring their gills and sucking it in with a whoosh, causing the angler to feel just a gentle tap, or nothing at all.

So, most of the time, experienced anglers have evidence on which to base their assumption about which type of fish has taken a bite, given these general differences in the ways they tend to strike. But these generalizations don’t always apply. Surely, a redfish can strike and cause just a single tap, and either species can take a lure into its mouth without causing a perceptible tap of any kind.

Significantly, the position of the fish related to the lure affects the way it strikes. The strike of a fish sitting still and sucking in a lure which passes slowly in front of its nose will feel much different than one made by a fish moving quickly away from the angler on the take. This truth applies regardless of the species, so a person needs evidence beyond the feel of the strike in order to determine which kind of fish they fight.

Trout and reds do fight in subtly different ways, of course.

Generally, specks tend to stay higher in the water column, breaking the surface more often. They usually pull with less consistent effort, almost gliding at times, then making sudden, extreme bursts while shaking their heads deliberately. Reds, on the other hand, usually stay lower in the water, pulling more consistently, often to the side, in a wide circle.

Most anglers who’ve caught plenty of trout and redfish have awareness of these facts. A higher percentage have specific knowledge related to the normal habits of hooked redfish, as compared with those of a whopper trout. Anyone with little or no experience fighting trout exceeding five or six pounds might

A redfish (or trout) hooked in the anal fin like this one caught by Lloyd Johnson will pull with extra strength, potentially creating confusion about its identity and size.

THE LIGHTEST PENN REEL EVER MADE The Lightest PENN Reel Ever Made. The all new Conflict II matches an extremely light weight design with PENN’s legendary durability. Featuring our RR30 body, CNC Gear Technology and HT-100 Drag system, the Conflict II is the ultimate inshore reel.

PENNFISHING.COM

© 2018 Pure Fishing, Inc.

TSFMAG.com | 19

prematurely assume any supremely strong fish “has to be a red, because it’s pulling too hard to be a trout.” I’ve heard my customers utter these words many times, sometimes when they assign the wrong identity to the fish they’ve hooked.

In the end, the way a fish fights relates to the way it becomes attached to the hook(s). Any fish hooked inside the mouth becomes more likely to rise and shake its head above the surface. This can cause a redfish to throw a white ball of foam skyward and look like a trout, confusing the angler on the other end of the line. Even if it doesn’t shake its head above water, a red hooked in the throat or This redfish inhaled Lloyd Johnson’s TopDog in the A trout hooked on the side of the mouth dark, then came to the surface shaking its head, and under the throat tends to pull sideways gill often shakes its head in making everyone in the group think it was a big trout. against the angler during the fight. response to the irritant, the same way a trout will.

Conversely, a trout hooked outside the mouth can pull sideways, way the hooks buried under her chin and in the side of her face. If I even downward and sideways, much like a redfish. This happens had jumped to an incorrect conclusion and put too much pressure often when plugs carrying multiple treble hooks become buried in on her, I might have incited her ire and ignited a fight which would the cheek and/or pectoral fin of a trout. In such cases, an angler can have caused the hooks to pull out. Luckily for me, I played with easily mistake a big trout for a redfish, given the fact the fish usually patience that day, so I did not act on my false assumption. fights lower in the water column, while pulling sideways in a wide It tickles and satisfies me when a big ol’ fish I think is a “nasty carp” arc, with considerable strength. morphs into the trout of my dreams. Sometimes I say a bad word One of the best trout of my career did just that. Though I hooked when things evolve in the opposite direction, which they often it in knee-deep water, it never showed itself on the surface until I do. Like most anglers with ample experience, I’ve been fooled by had it within a few feet of me, a full five or more minutes into the members of both species more times than I care to admit. fight. The fish kept stubbornly pulling sideways, circling around Sometimes, when we hook a big trout, we think we’re in a me several times. And it struck with violent motion, obviously fight with a redfish. Other times, when we hook a red, we think swimming through the lure in a mobile attack, like redfish regularly we’ve hooked a mighty fine trout. No matter how many times do. In fact, throughout the battle, I assumed I’d hooked a red, but these things happen, no matter how aware we become of the I knew if the fish turned out to be a trout, it would possess epic subtle differences in the ways the two species generally strike dimensions. To date, she’s the only trout under thirty-one inches I’ve and fight, we can’t always tell which is which. Consequently, ever caught which weighed ten pounds. we should fight all the strong fish we hook with cautious That ridiculously fat trout pulled the way she did because of the deliberation until we can see them.

CONTACT

KEVIN COCHRAN

20 | May 2018

Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject.

Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.

TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE Phone 361-688-3714 Email kevxlr8@mygrande.net Web www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com

Part X STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP During the limo ride to the restaurant Tommy began playing with the bottles in the bar and offered to pour drinks, if anybody wanted one. The consensus was that they’d wait and have drinks when they arrived at Core. Tommy, though, decided he would like a drink of the expensive Scotch Doug had them sample earlier. Sipping his whiskey, he asked Doug, “So how come this restaurant only has two Michelins?”

“Well Tommy, I guess that’s all that they have been honored with thus far,” Doug informed him.

“Must be awkward just having two new tires. I hope they put them on the front and not the back,” Tommy commented.

Doug looked bewildered and was about to say something but Red interrupted him, changing the subject. “Say Doug,” he began, “We are thinking about visiting some of the famous English gun shops tomorrow.”

“Great idea, Red,” Doug answered. “There are many, for sure, but go to the big-name shops first; Purdey and Sons, Holland and Holland, and John Rigby. After that you can visit some of the smaller shops, if you want to see more.”

Thinking for a second, he added with a chuckle, “I am certain you will enjoy the showrooms. If you happen to find something you really like…all it costs is money.”

“Well, I know that I can’t afford anything from those gun builders, but I’ll have a good time looking and just let Red and Tommy spend their money,” Bodie quipped.

“I want to get me an elephant rifle,” Tommy proclaimed excitedly.

Surprised, the group all looked at Tommy sipping his Scotch and in unison asked, “Why an elephant rifle?”

“I’ve just always wanted an elephant rifle. Like the ones Capstick wrote about in all his books,” Tommy replied. “Not one of those big Nitro rifles, I want one of those .375 H&H rifles,” he smiled.

Doug chuckled at Tommy’s announcement but Bodie and Red were a bit worried – knowing that he could afford one and likely wouldn’t hesitate to buy one.

“Well Tommy, you know that makers like H&H, Purdey and Sons, and Rigby as well, will custom fit you for a rifle of your choosing and they really are works of art,” Doug advised.

“If they custom fit Tommy for a double rifle, it’s going to be so short and so light that it will kick like a mule!” Red interjected.

Everyone laughed but Tommy who glared at Red for a moment and then said, “Well, I was going to get one for you too, Red. But on second thought, if they would custom fit a rifle for you it would probably be too ugly for them to let it out of the store.”

Thankfully, before Red could come unglued on Tommy, the limousine pulled into an alcove and the driver announced they had reached their destination.

TSFMAG.com | 23

24 | May 2018

told Bodie not to forget the card that he had given him and that he should use it for any and all expenses.

“So, Doug. If I see a rifle or shotgun that I want at one of these highdollar gun shops…I should use the card?” Bodie whispered.

Doug’s eyes widened, and he tried to speak but choked on the wine he was swallowing. Tommy slapped him on the back, a little too hard, the way Bodie always did him. When Doug recovered he saw Bodie grinning from ear to ear and he knew that he’d been had.

“Oh, that was funny, Bodie. Just hilarious!” Doug acknowledged.

“That’s what Bodie does to me whenever I choke. It works, too. Don’t it?” Tommy beamed.

“Why yes, yes it does, Tommy,” Doug agreed, still chuckling at Bodie’s humor.

“Doug, do you think we can we have some of that famous English black pudding for dessert tonight?” Tommy asked.

Surprised, Doug said, “They don’t have it here but most of the fish and chip shops have it, so you can get some with lunch.”

“That will work. I’ll try me some tomorrow,” Tommy answered. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, if I buy me one of those elephant rifles, can I take it home with me on your jet?”

“Unless you buy a used rifle or one from finished stock, I think the waiting period on a custom build might require a year or longer,” Doug replied. “But, if you buy one that is already built they might be able to accommodate you with a partial fitting. It would then be shipped to their Dallas shop and you could pick it up there. You would need to enquire about all the particulars during your visit.”

A chef appeared as the first course was about to be served and a bunch of people started carrying food to the table and placing it in front of the boys.

The chef said, “Your potato and roe gentlemen.”

Tommy looked at his plate and whispered to Bodie, “Our taters have flowers and stuff in it and it sort of smells like fish.”

“Just watch Doug and see what he does. I’m not sure what to do with it either,” Bodie whispered back.

Picking up on the boy’s confusion, Doug spoke, “They’re not real flowers, they are food. Just pretend it’s a baked potato like you get at home.”

“OK, Doug, but these little round balls sure look like salmon eggs to me. Am I supposed to eat these, too,” Tommy asked very timidly.

“That’s what roe is, Tommy. Fish eggs, but these are not from salmon. This is trout and herring roe – try it, you might like the flavor.”

To be continued...

MARTIN STRARUP

CONTACT

Men in fine suits met the car and opened the doors, welcoming the group to Core.

Tommy whispered to Bodie, “Where are these people from? I can’t understand a word they’re saying.”

Bodie laughed a bit and answered, “Tommy, their English is a bit different from ours, but that’s what they’re speaking.”

“Maybe they just need more practice,” Tommy commented in reply.

The group was shown to their table and Doug spoke to a sommelier and ordered wine for his guests.

“Doug, please don’t order for me, I’m not much on drinking wine,” Bodie informed his friend.

“Me either,” Red agreed. “Just never could make myself like the stuff.”

“Well, I like wine, so I’ll drink it with you, Doug,” Tommy chimed in.

Bodie asked if Bulleit Bourbon might be available, and he and Red each ordered a glass on the rocks.

As they waited for their drinks, a waiter came to the table and started going over the courses for the evening.

“What’s he saying?” Tommy asked. “I can’t understand French.”

Since Bodie and Red didn’t understand a word themselves, they looked at Doug for direction.

“He said that their five-course meal for the day consists of potato and roe, Morecambe bay shrimps, Swiss chard, brown butter, Scottish venison, smoked chestnut, pearl barley, whiskey, lemon verbena and fig roles,” Doug explained. “How does that sound to you boys?”

“Well I know what shrimp are, and I know what venison is – so let’s go for it.” Bodie answered for the group.

Tommy excused himself to go to the restroom and along the way he stopped a woman in a chef’s outfit and asked her where they kept the two Michelins they’d won.

“Oh,” she exclaimed with pride. “We now have three Michelin stars!

You will see them displayed on the wall in the hallway there to your left.”

“Thank you, ma’m. I want to check the tread on those Stars to see if they’re different from our Michelins back in the USA,” Tommy explained walking away.

“Some lady told me those Michelins were hanging on a wall back by the toilets, but I didn’t see any tires back there,” Tommy informed the group when he got back to the table.

Doug wanted to explain but thought better of it after seeing Bodie shaking his head, “No.” The wine and drinks arrived, and the boys talked about what gun shop they wanted to visit first. Tommy wanted to know where to get a fishing license and Red wanted to know if the Westley Richards gun shop was close to Holland & Holland.

“Westley Richards is in Birmingham, Red. About a two-hour drive northwest of London,” Doug said. “Just tell the driver and he’ll take you there and you will see some beautiful countryside along the way.”

“And Red wants some authentic fish and chips,” Tommy spoke up.

“Where would we find that?”

“Just tell the driver what you want boys, and he’ll take you to the best places. You will like the fish and chips, I promise. And please remember, the driver works for you. He will not only take you where you wish to go but he can also answer most questions about the area,” Doug assured the group.

Doug ordered another round of drinks for the table, along with another bottle of wine as conversation centered around the events of the day ahead and the excitement pleased him. He leaned over and

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.

Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas.

Email

Trouthunter@swbell.net

COOLER DUTY JUST GOT A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE. INTRODUCING THE HOPPER BACKFLIP. A cooler designed to take further, pack heavier and wear longer. The dry-hide shell keeps it water-proof, the Hydro-lock zipper keeps it leak-proof, and the ergonomic backpack strap system keeps it comfortable enough to go the extra mile. Because a cooler shouldn’t hold you back, it should help you carry on.

STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

I

’m not sure exactly where or how the idea takes root; perhaps a magazine article, TV show, or possibly something you noticed on a social media site. It seems we all develop a fishing itch that needs scratching from time to time and sometimes you need help to reach it. The itch I’m referring to is the desire to fish a new locale or to really learn a particular body of water for future trips. There are all sorts of ways to go about this task and each of them will potentially yield a different set of results.

On the DIY side, you can scour articles on the internet and read every how-to piece to become more familiar with the area. You can ask friends who may have been to that particular area and gain advice from their experiences. Both of these methods will work but they pale in comparison to spending a day on that body of water with a local professional fishing guide.

Hands down, the best way to get a jump on the learning curve and improve your success is to enlist the help of someone like a guide, who has intimate knowledge of an area. Many times, just learning what not to do and where not to go can be the biggest help of all and a guide can certainly provide you with such information.

Well, now you have decided to go ahead and make the investment in hiring a guide, what’s next?

There are a handful of things that are paramount to your success that you must know and abide by to put as many odds in your favor as possible. Realizing there are no guarantees in the world of fishing is perhaps rule number one. Any guide who guarantees you success, limits, or anything of the sort more than likely has some sort of gimmick or loophole to fall back on to save face when things go bad. Do not, I repeat, do not get caught up in a hype train. More times than not, you will likely get burned and have a bad experience. Do your homework, ask the right questions, be honest with your guide and yourself, and enjoy the opportunity.

The first step toward an enjoyable adventure begins with the initial contact to the guide of your choice. There are a ton of ways to get in touch with a guide nowadays; all the different forms of social media, along with email and text make just about everyone accessible.

A good old-fashioned telephone conversation, albeit a thing of the past in some circles, is probably the best way to avoid any type of misunderstanding or confusion – in my opinion. Of course, nothing

Clients enjoying a productive day in the Sabine marsh.

TSFMAG.com | 27

beats speaking face to face, but a phone call is the next best thing. Text messages, emails, and such have a way of getting scrambled and misunderstood, not mention the digital speak and abbreviations of common terms that can lead to misconceptions.

As a guide, I pride myself on being as open and honest as possible with the people who take the time to contact me. I want them to know if I have been catching fish or if things have been slow. I put all my cards on the table to eliminate gray areas, and no chance that anything can be misconstrued. This has been my standard operating procedure for the past twenty-five years and it sure seems to work, for me anyway.

Speaking again as a guide, I greatly appreciate the client being honest with me as well. Tell me exactly what you are looking for and how you would like to go about achieving your goal. If you are looking to catch a particular species of fish using a certain method, let that be known up front so that type of trip can be arranged.

Scouting days, run in preparation for Howard Watson was the first client I If the client says, “I’d like to catch a redfish on client fishing trips, can be some of the ever took fishing many years ago and best and most relaxing for a fishing guide. fly tackle,” then that is what the guide needs we still enjoy sharing a boat together. to strive to provide. In the past I have had Fishing out of the country means that using customers come all the way from Colorado or Sight-fishing with lures from a poled skiff is a a guide is a given and, despite language New Mexico to specifically chase redfish on fly, world away from soaking natural bait. Make barriers, you must still do your best to sure your guide understands your desires. communicate your goals for the trip. and that is exactly what we did.

During a couple of those trips the clients told horror stories of booking guides to do that very thing, only to be told upon arrival that the program wouldn’t work that day for whatever reason. So, instead of poling the flats, they ended up throwing live bait on conventional tackle in deep water. Talk about going from one end of the fishing spectrum to the other.

I make a point during the pre-booking discussion to inquire, “What are you hoping to accomplish; catch a big fish or catch a bunch of fish?” Invariably, they answer, “I want to catch a bunch of big fish.” There’s some honesty for you.

Once you have agreed on species and method for your particular trip, ask all your questions up front. Ask what the guide provides, what type gear they use, length or duration of the trip, is fish cleaning provided, are there any associated charges, or is the price he quotes you a turnkey deal. Leave nothing to chance because you and the guide will both feel better knowing that nothing was vaguely implied or assumed. Everybody has heard the rather humorous implications of the word assume, I’m sure. way to get an even better feel for your trip. References are a big help, Another question for your potential guide is whether he or she especially if you are traveling a great distance. There are several places might be able to provide a few references from recent clients. Most that specialize in helping fishermen who travel, they are always a great guides will be happy to oblige you with this as it serves as a great help and provide quality information to those willing to inquire.

28 | May 2018

CHUCK UZZLE

CONTACT

I cannot stress enough the importance of being No better seat in the house when you get to watch your up front and honest with clients hit the perfect spot. your guide about what you expect for your trip. People who take care of the details and leave assumptions out of the equation are more often than not rewarded with a great day on the water. Nobody wants to spend their valuable free time doing something that doesn’t interest them or benefits them in a meaningful way. A good guide will do everything possible to ensure you and your family or friends have a great day on the water.

In saying this, I also advise that you please remember; even the best guides have tough fishing days and are forced to deal with inclement weather at times. In some cases, where the weather forces a change of method or species, or the trip to be cut short, many guides will offer some sort discounted rate or other option to help offset the inconvenience. Most of the guides I know would rather do as much as possible to keep their customers happy than to risk having one leave disgruntled. Again, all this goes back to both sides being up front and honest about all aspects of the trip.

I hope that by sharing some of this information with the readers of TSFMag, each of you have a better understanding about how the “finding and hiring process” works. Hopefully some of these tips will help both you and your guide in the future and better insure you will receive the best day possible on the water.

TOUCH ‘N GO.

Introducing Power-Pole® VISION. The first marine accessory management and multi-media tablet. VISION lets you program custom preset buttons so at a single touch your boat responds with all hands on deck to go “Wide Open”, “Cruise” or settle in for your “Hole Shot”.

Whatever you decide and program. It’s the future of Total Boat Control from Power-Pole. For complete details go to power-pole.com. Available soon.

30 | May 2018

Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.

Phone 409-697-6111 Email wakesndrakes@yahoo.com Website wakesndrakes.com

why we belong...

COMMUNITY

DISCOUNTS

ADVOCACY

EXPERT ADVICE

We are the faces of BoatU.S. sail boaters and power boaters, new and seasoned, coastal and land locked. We are passionate about boating and we want to make the most out of our time on the water. That’s why we’re a part of the oldest and largest Association of boaters, because we know it’s better to belong.

$24 a year

JOIN US TODAY! BoatUS.com/Membership TSFMAG.com | 31

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

I

n recent years Texas state waters have seen serious progress, in building artificial reefs that can be maintained and fished without federal interference. And these structures were greatly needed. Our offshore anglers had a huge dependence on oil and gas platforms during the past 50 years—but then many were suddenly removed.

Anglers were hurting for structure to fish, and Texas lagged far behind other Gulf states that had progressive reef-building programs decades ago. These big, new Texas reefs will certainly help. Once that material hits bottom, fish begin moving in overnight, though it takes time for a reef to “mature” with natural growth to build a complete food chain.

Fishing these reefs is a different ball game—more complicated than tying up to a Gulf platform that can be seen 10 miles away. Many anglers will have to learn new skills and techniques out there, to adapt. Viewed from the surface, these fish-nourishing reefs are invisible. It’s like anchoring or trolling in the middle of nowhere, unless they’re marked with a buoy.

I’ve fished a number of Gulf bottom structures over the years, from boat wrecks to natural (often bubbling) rocks further offshore. And there was the old Car Bodies reef off Galveston, built in the early 1960s. Corrosion and hurricanes diminished and scattered most of that

At left, Gary Glick, president of Friends of RGV Reef, along with reef supporter Max Nichols, both attend as 50 more Reefing Pyramids are deployed offshore by the vessel Lil Mo.

reef, since thin car steel doesn’t last in salt water. (It is no longer approved for reef material, either.) However, some of that reef is heavy concrete pipe, durable enough to last for generations. We certainly did well, fishing there 30 years after it was built.

We’d reach the coordinates, make several passes, mark different structures on bottom, toss a buoy on the biggest one, and then study the current’s direction as it impacted the buoy. Then it was anchor straight up-current from the buoy, pay out rope, back down and ideally tie the rope off exactly next to the buoy, stowing it back in the boat. This didn’t always happen; wind and wave direction invariably alter that scenario. Sometimes we had to re-anchor.

Hauling up anchor is work, but we learned to use a sliding buoy on the anchor rope, gunning the boat forward 30-40 yards to pull that anchor to the surface. It was certainly more complicated than sticking a rig hook on Gulf platforms.

That artificial reef often paid off handsomely, and with seldom another boat around. As with any boating trip, there are hazards there. While anchored in the open Gulf, one has to keep an eye out for passing boat traffic—seldom a concern when tied to Gulf platforms.

While anchored at the Car Bodies, a friend had his boat run down and flipped by a big pilotless shrimpboat. It was a cold autumn swim and an awkward meet-up, when they were finally pulled from the water by the shrimpboat’s sheepish crew.

That Galveston reef is small compared with five multi-acre sites currently being developed for placement by numerous organizations, agencies and donors. All are being placed within reach of smaller boats,

The Atlantis Marine Habitat worksite in Freeport. Here, a barge can easily be loaded with reef material bound for offshore.

34 | May 2018

Catching limits of kingfish at the new artificial reefs shouldn’t be too difficult.

weather permitting, and largely consist of concrete pyramids designed to deflect bottom-scraping shrimp trawls and withstand severe storms.

The same design, made of steel, is used to guard underwater vertical “Christmas tree” wellheads. About 10 feet tall, they have long been a haven for red snapper and schools of amberjack. It will be a welcome improvement after the removal of drilling platforms in recent years.

With so much effort and expense going into the five new reefs, you can bet they’re using the right material. Texas has a high-energy coastline, and it can get seriously rough offshore. State waters within sight of land aren’t that deep, so heavy material is used that can take a pounding from waves and terrible currents during hurricanes.

At the same time, you want material that readily attracts marine growth, which requires concrete with the right Ph chemistry. Ocean Ph (acidic versus alkaline) is said to be 8.3, so the closer reef material matches that number, the more readily barnacles, corals and algae will attach and grow. That keeps the little critters happy, until big predators arrive for a meal.

On a typical trip taken during autumn (when there is less fishing pressure offshore), we’d anchor and bait up with a few frozen squid, having bought a pound or two back at the marina. This was good for keeper snapper, sand trout, croaker, whiting and slot redfish, mostly.

Smaller sand trout were filleted and used for cut bait. An entire trout carcass might bring a sudden strike from bigger snapper or oversized bull redfish. Once, while using half a big croaker, a big rod bent double and then a huge tarpon took to the air, ultimately spooling the big reel before we could pull up anchor.

Low-relief material like these cinder blocks are planted to help grow smaller fish.

For many anglers, catching quality red snapper within sight of land is the ultimate goal.

You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.

geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2018 GEICO

36 | May 2018

hook into someone quicker than a cat can lick his buns.

Numerous underwriters are making these ambitious projects possible (see map) with additional reefs also in the works off Port Mansfield, Corpus Christi, Port O’Connor, Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston and Sabine, with contributions of more than $1.5 million by the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Texas, further leveraged by funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and others. The Rio Grand Valley (RGV) project is one of the largest, with plans for 1,650 acres of reef, the result of local and state partnerships with the Friends of RGV, CCA Texas and its national habitat program, as well as the TPWD. Credit also goes to Atlantis Marine Habitat in Freeport, the company that has built thousands of tough but marine-friendly concrete pyramids known to withstand serious storms. Their pyramids were used on all five new reefs and should last for generations to come.

JOE RICHARD

Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast.

He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com

CONTACT

It was another reason why one should keep a buoy attached to that anchor rope. You never know what will grab a bait out there, maybe a huge ling, shark, kingfish or tarpon. A quick crew can dump the buoyed anchor rope, crank an engine and follow the fish. And big fish will be prowling these new reefs. It just requires patience and a willingness to move the boat around, and anchoring on the up-current side of the reef so that bait, smell and chum will attract additional fish from down-current.

I must be old-fashioned, but fishing around a buoy sure helps with the orientation. I can picture compass direction out there on a clear day, and it seems easy enough to remember bottom structure on one side of the buoy or another, even cast to them. If other boats are bothersome, one can resort to a black, quart-size oil Five new artificial container for a buoy, something reefs have been you would really have to watch for, deployed within and recognize. A big, orange buoy sight of land, off will attract other boaters from afar. the Texas coast in recent years.

To really avoid attention, one can rely strictly on a GPS plotter.

Most of these five new reefs cover 160 acres, so each is a quarter-mile square. Big enough for plenty of elbow room, but small enough to watch the other boats. If you see excitement in another boat such as a flailing gaff, a waved landing net, fish being yanked aboard or the crew dancing and high-fiving, well, it’s awful easy for another boat to ease in close by, to cash in on the action.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to practice tried-and-true methods of “body language discouragement” around other boats. Such as sitting around not fishing, no bent rods, bored expressions, slumped shoulders, eating lunch or a drink in hand, etc. Who would want to anchor next to that?

One can also drift-fish over these reefs, either while jigging deep or drifting lightly-weighted baits far below. These reef fish are more scattered than clustered tightly around a platform, so patience is required. Start the drift up-current of the 160 acres, drop baits and keep an eye on the fishfinder. Keep a buoy handy, or press the man overboard button (MOB) when an enticing picture appears on the fish finder. A small area loaded with fish can then be returned to for additional action.

Another tactic is to troll plugs over these reefs, taking care to avoid another boat’s fishing lines or worse, anchor rope. Today there is a large assortment of big-lipped, diving plugs that wiggle down to 30 feet and more, if braid line is used. Never a big fan of braid, I’ve pulled these plugs with 40-pound mono line, and they worked fine. Troll a spread of four plugs of difference colors, some almost in the prop wash and others far behind the boat, and action shouldn’t take long to arrive. Kingfish and jack crevalle are expected, but anything can hit those big plugs, even snapper and tarpon. However, caution advised, when landing powerful fish with big treble hooks. It’s best to clear the deck, open the ice chest, swing the fish inside and slam the lid shut until it quiets down, plus add a few minutes. Gaffing is optional.

Remember, these offshore fish can twist around and slam a big treble

f

ONLY $149

FOR WORRY-FREE FISHING ALL YEAR

h

m t o o d f e is er

BREAKDOWNS/OUT OF FUEL/JUMP STARTS/SOFT UNGROUNDINGS

Have no worries on the water...TowBoatU.S. is there when you need help.

BoatUS.com/Towing 800-395-2628

WE’RE WITH YOU ON THE WATER 24/7 •

Towing details can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree or by calling.

GET THE BOATU.S. APP FOR ONE-TOUCH TOWING TSFMAG.com | 37

Driscoll Otto fishing postfront conditions – CPR!

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

TRUST YOUR FEET! Hard to believe April has come and gone. Seems only last week I was preparing to head to Port Mansfield for my annual winter stint in the Lower Laguna. Time flies when you love your job!

I still do not need to set an alarm, and for the most part I feel great every morning. I enjoy my 5:30 ride through Rockport; nice hot cup of strong coffee and maybe a fresh donut from time to time. There is little traffic at this time and the lights of the town reflecting off the water along Business 35 always remind me how fortunate I am.

Rockport still has a long way to go to get back to the real or new normal, but efforts are still strong, and work is being done every day.

Fishing is great; actually better than great, but this is not uncommon following a major storm event. Seasonal bounty is what many refer to as the peak times of year, but this is different. Too many good fish in too many areas that previously had zero.

I am continuing to relearn the bay day by day. Honestly, I believe Hurricane Harvey will prolong my career by many years as I have a new and resurgent attitude after weathering all that 2017 sent our way.

I spoke with Blaine Friermood the other day about the relearning process. He too is relearning due to Harvey’s flooding effect on his home waters in Trinity Bay. “It took me 50 years to somewhat figure this system out to a point where I could actually predict some things,” he told me.

38 | May 2018

It is true what he said about relearning and this is especially true with wade fishing. The only real way to accomplish this is by fishing areas with changes under all types of conditions and during all seasons of the year. Real knowledge never comes without investing serious effort.

I am seeing way more bottom changes now due to an expanded search on the water. One day I am in Corpus Bay, Aransas the next, then St. Charles, and today it was Copano.

Why all the movement? The need to know numerous areas holding fish at any given time has always been a huge mental thing for me; it helps tremendously on the tough days.

All the shorelines that I have waded for years show significant changes in bottom contour and not all of these changes can be seen. My feet are my eyes. They tell me things that can only be learned with endless effort. On the water is one thing, being in it is yet another.

The smallest of bottom changes can many times be the reason one section of a shoreline is predictably consistent versus another. I always tell young anglers to rely on both what your eyes can see and what your feet can feel. A shoreline bottom-structure condition will repeat somewhere down the shoreline. A savvy angler recognizes the differences and files them away for another day.

TSFMAG.com | 39

40 | May 2018

in the predominantly clear water of late – making long casts is an absolute necessity and you would do well to run a leader of clear mono or fluorocarbon at least 36-inches length – attached with the slimmest joining knot you can tie to enable the knot to run through the guides.

I also believe that plain (not painted) jigheads draw more strikes in warm-clear water. Chartreuse is OK in dirty stuff or cold-clear water during winter. I use the Bass Assassin 2/0 heads in 1/16-ounce; screw-lock style. Whether or not it actually weighs 1/16-ounce is immaterial – I know it works and that’s what matters to me.

Trout take the shorter-shanked 2/0 jigheads into their mouth where they hold more securely. Bigger hooks are not better, in my opinion.

I frequently see clients struggling to achieve necessary casting distance when rigging leaders in other ways. Changing their rigging and adjusting reels, along with a bit of casting instruction, usually works wonders. I sometimes wait a wade or two before assisting. Seems to help the lesson sink in a little better.

No menhaden showing as of this writing but they’re coming and the inevitable slicking will follow. I set the wade line according to where slicks appear most Brian Eckhart regularly. Long casts enable reaching them shows off a very without disturbing the feeding. nice spring trout.

Remember this: Long, drawn-out slicks can be unreliable. What I rely upon are the small ovals that appear shallow and slightly down-current from submerged grass. I always believe that the shallower a slick appears, the greater the probability it was made by a large trout.

NEVER wade through areas where slicking is occurring. Wait your turn, a lure cast properly and deliberately into this area will sooner or later get a look – I promise.

Practice extra caution when navigating Harvey-affected bays. Trust your feet to reveal new changes in some old areas that you fish. New bottom contour can be very productive and you truly might be one of the first to discover it. How cool is that?

May your fishing always be catching. -Guide, Jay Watkins

C O N TA C T

Right now our best trout are staying shallow along our barrier islands and spoils where bottom grass is found both shallow and deep. I attribute this to water clarity.

This season’s incredible clarity is Sherry Otto with a causing our larger trout to stay close windy day trout – CPR! to areas where both shallow and deeper grass are present.

On calm, clear days I notice that the trout go deeper quicker than on windy or overcast days. I guess the reason behind this is their natural tendency to avoid predation from above. These fish have no idea about how big or small they are and continue their entire lives to fear predators from above. I do however believe that the osprey and brown pelicans recognize them as too large to eat.

I base this theory on having watched osprey and brown pelicans diving toward the surface, only to pull out of the dive at the last second. More times that I can remember I have waded to the area of interest and have hooked up immediately with a very nice trout or redfish.

From their elevated vantage point the fish looked like a meal but as the avian predator drew closer the actual size of the intended prey was revealed and they aborted the dive. None-the-less, it told me where I might find success.

I try to NEVER walk through the areas where we are catching our best fish. Wade and work the fringes to allow the sweet spot to remain sweet. I know many professional anglers and guides alike that abide religiously by this belief. The only reason for us to arrive at this conclusion separately is because it’s true and it works.

Winds continue to run near 20-mph on average and, honestly, this has been a positive influence with the continued, uncommon clarity.

So many days last week we caught beautiful trout less than kneedeep in water so clear you could see them take the lure if you were paying attention.

I remember as a boy fishing Pete’s Bend and Italian Bend in Port Bay with my dad and seeing a trout’s gills flare when it took my MirrOlure.

We used to remove the eyelet from the top and filled the hole with clear nail polish and placed it in the nose. I also painted yellow dots, mimicking the Bingos I’d had luck with. We also eliminated the middle treble hook and filled those screw holes with nail polish.

I have recently also reverted to that old MirrOlure reel and twitch retrieve that worked so well for us back then. Installing lighter, stronger hooks and smaller, high-quality split rings make the baits swim a lot better. I am, of course, still catching a ton of trout on soft plastic. Bass Assassins, along with the MirrOlure Provoker and Lil’ John are all three dynamite baits.

I want to mention again, having witnessed how effective it has been

Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website

361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com

They’re out there. Capable and ready to crush you like a snack crab. Be ready with one of the many items in Fuji’s growing selection of rod repair products. Fix a top - now. Or replace an entire guide train on your favorite rod. Give the repair shop a break and get back on the water - fast, keep genuine Fuji® repair components in your gear bag. Look for Fuji® products at Academy Stores®, Bass Pro Shops® and other fine retailers.

TSFMAG.com | 41

My grandkids, Lincoln and Sadie.

C A P T. S COT T N U L L

S H A L L O W W AT E R F I S H I N G

DON’T GET TOO SERIOUS ON US! “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”

- John Muir I received that quote on a card included with an order of fly tying supplies the other day. It struck a chord.

Given the current level of ticked-off this country seems to be in, maybe if we all went outside and got chin deep in nature for a while we could wash all the nasty away. Well, it’s a thought anyway.

It might not work on some old grown up curmudgeon, but I bet it would work on most youngsters. Take a kid fishing is more than just a slogan, it is an important thing to do for many reasons. Most of us who have developed a lifelong addiction to hunting and fishing started out

Lincoln and Sadie looking to see what’s biting on a calm day at the jetties.

42 | May 2018

as youngsters with a parent, grandparent, other family member, or maybe just a neighbor. I was lucky and had all of the above. Some took me fishing because they enjoyed it themselves while others were simply kind enough to indulge my passion.

I believe those many hours and days spent outdoors instilled a great respect for all of nature. I know it stoked a curiosity that still burns. I’m most at peace easing through a marsh or stalking through the brush just to see what’s there. I don’t have to be hunting or fishing, just being outside is enough.

Both of my girls love to hunt, fish and spend time outdoors. Over the years some of the best conversations I’ve had with the girls have been while we were out on the water, sitting in a deer blind or just riding in the truck on the way to some great adventure.

The best way to get to know what’s going on in their young heads is to take them away from all the everyday mayhem of life and relax a while.

Now I get to do it all over again with my grandkids.

My daughter sent me a video the other day of my granddaughter talking non-stop about coming to visit us. She was going on and on about how she wanted to come find the deer and ride in the buggy and feed the baby chickens and go out on the boat and go catch fish and see the cows and…well…if you’ve been around a three-year-old you get it. Put a big smile on my face.

FOR REEL LIFE

The NEW, Shimano Curado lives up to its heritage and sets new standards of versatility, performance and reliability. This is the one reel you will want to use every day, for life.

PERFECT FOR THE TEXAS GULF COAST

fish.shimano.com

DON’T FORGET TO USE YOUR

GIFT CARD

Available at

academy.com TSFMAG.com | 43

44 | May 2018

Author and granddaughter Sadie – it doesn’t have to be a glamor species!

Cade McCumber, age five. Proud young angler!

something will come along and eat their shrimp.

Keep the gear simple but do yourself a favor and don’t go cheap.

The Princess Elsa rigs are cute, but from personal experience don’t fall for it. Nothing spoils the mood of the trip like a cheap balky reel that quits working after a couple fish. There are several good quality closed faced spinning reels available. Pony up and get them something that will last a while. There are also some decent quality kids rods on the market that will work just fine for most anything they’re likely to hook up with.

Once I realized my girls were hooked I took a couple good popping rods, cut them to a shorter length and installed smaller handles that fit their hands. One other tip I’ll pass along from personal experience is to have them practice casting. I made a game out of it with buckets in the yard. Having them familiar with the gear and mechanics of casting prior to the first trip made things go a lot smoother.

As for my grandkids’ trip. We had a blast. They got to ride on the new boat, laughed about jumping some barge wakes, watched a bunch of feeding dolphin and saw some whooping cranes. Oh yeah, we fished for a little while, too. It was a great day.

If you want to get the kids out for a fun day of fishing and exploring, give me a call. I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is and throughout this summer I’ll offer discounted trips for them. We’ll get out there and have fun catching whatever wants to eat. We might stop and mess with a crab or watch some dolphins. And kids love sharks, so we might go try to catch some of those, too. You can come along, but don’t get too serious on us.

C O N TA C T

Relaxing is the key word when it comes to introducing the little ones to the outdoors, particularly fishing. Don’t put too much pressure on the catch. This isn’t about loading the boat with limits of trout and redfish. If it happens that’s cool, but for a kid starting out it’s all about the tug. Who among us does not fondly recall the tap-tap-tap transmitted up the line as some unknown fish showed interest in the dead shrimp impaled on our hook. It didn’t matter if it was a piggy perch or hardhead, it was all Cade and father, Caleb about that tug. In many ways it still is, or McCumber, enjoying a fishing trip. at least it should be.

The coolest part of saltwater fishing is the potential variety available when you toss out a line baited with a simple dead shrimp. Most everything out there eats shrimp. Keep it simple and fun starting out. If they enjoy those first outings there will be plenty of time to work them up to chasing trophies. But if you try to start them out at the top of the game there’s a very real possibility that they’ll get bored and not catch the bug that infected you.

I can’t put age ranges on what is best for your kids, but mine were just toddlers when they made their first trips out on the boat. I’ve heard a general rule of thumb is to expect an attention span of about thirty minutes per year of age, your mileage may vary. Keep in mind that while the things we see every day on the water can become mundane for us, poking at crabs or watching a heron stalk minnows might be just the thing to flip the switch on a lifetime in the outdoors for your kid. One of my girls’ favorite things to do was to pick up wads of sargassum weed and shake out the critters onto the deck.

Their amazement at all of the life within that small handful of floating weeds was cool to watch.

You know your kid better than anyone else. Base your trip on that knowledge. Don’t make big plans for an extended stay on the water if you know they can’t handle it. Whether paddling, boating or just a bank fishing trip; several short fun excursions are worth far more than one long grueling session. As they get older and show interest you can increase the duration. All of this might sound like common sense, but I’ve seen far too many gung-ho parents push their kiddos too far and end up taking all of the fun out of it. What constitutes a good day on the water for the avid fisherman probably isn’t going to be the same for a youngster.

Pre-trip planning is just as important as the actual trip. Make sure they have the proper clothing, footwear and sunscreen. Also pack plenty of drinks and snacks. An uncomfortable, thirsty or hungry kid will end a trip quick-fast. I can easily go all day on a protein bar and a couple bottles of water, my girls couldn’t. Pack extra.

As for the fishing, keep it simple. Like I stated earlier, kids just want something tugging on their line. Find a place with some decent water movement, park it and drop a dead shrimp on the bottom. Better yet, put it under a cork. We can all relate to the thrill of watching that cork dip under the surface. Chances are good

Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading.

Telephone Email Website

281-450-2206 captscottnull@gmail.com www.captainscottnull.com

Corpus Christi

N I W O N

Rockport

T R O CKP

RO

361-651-BOAT 361-727-BOAT (2628)

3033 S. Padre Island Drive

Corpus Christi, TX

(2628)

971 S.H. 35 Bypass

Rockport, TX

w w w. w a y p o i n t m a r i n e . c o m

1

#

Blazer Bay Dealer

in the USA

Official Sponsor of FOX Sports Outdoors with Barry Stokes TSFMAG.com | 45

Fig. 1

By Danielle deVacque | TP&W Intern | Upper Laguna Madre Lab

FIELD NOTES

SCUTTLEBUTT AT THE BOAT RAMP

46 | May 2018

Like many of you, in the summer of 2016, I spent a lot of time enjoying the great outdoors at a boat ramp. The difference was that I was on the other side of boating life with a bucket and a measuring board helping Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) employees conduct angler surveys.

After a few hundred interviews, I began to notice that there were some fishing topics that anglers would often bring up. Most of these topics, like those to follow, were subjects that could easily be answered with science.

questionable length, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind. First, know the size limits of the fish species you are landing. Second, make sure you are measuring with an accurate ruler. Anglers often use the ruler imprinted on top of their cooler, but keep in mind that coolers are made from a mold and the measurements may not be accurate. Finally, make sure that the fish is being measured correctly; close the mouth and measure to the furthest tip on the caudal/tail fin.

It Shrank in the Ice! Ah, yes. You brought back a fish that is smaller than regulation. It is almost guaranteed that at every survey conducted there will be a handful of anglers who say their fish shrank because it was kept on ice. Before you start thinking “it really happens” let me say that it does shrink… a little.

A study was conducted by TPW scientists to observe just how much a Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) would shrink when placed on ice. After taking hourly measurements for twenty-four hours on several fish specimens stored on ice, they found that fish shrink between 2 and 5 millimeters, which roughly translates to about 1/5th of an inch. In the scale of things, that is not a lot of shrinkage.

So, when you land a fish that might have a

My Fish Fillet has Worms!

Occasionally anglers come back from a great day of fishing and begin filleting their catch only to find several small, white worms in the flesh. These are known as spaghetti worms, but are scientifically called Poecilancistrium caryophyllum. Fish in the drum family, including spotted seatrout, black drum and redfish, are the most common hosts for these parasites.

What some anglers may not know is that these worms are actually just one of several juvenile stages of a tapeworm that prefers the intestines of sharks. In Figure 1, you can see how an egg develops into the worms you may see in your fish fillets.

The important question you might ask is: does this mean I’ll get a tapeworm? The simple answer is, no! Most worms can easily be removed from the flesh while you

TSFMAG.com | 47

Fig. 2

are filleting by gently pulling them out. If that’s too much work, the worms will typically die in the cooking process. In the rare case if a worm manages to survive being cooked and your stomach acid, rest assured you are still safe. Scientific studies have shown that these larvae will not mature into adults in warm-blooded animals. So while these worms may not look appetizing, they are harmless to humans.

Where Are All the Big Fish?

You spent hours fishing only to come back with a couple of keepers or nothing at all. The fish were out there, but everything biting is too small to keep. This is another common issue at the boat ramps, but believe it or not a lot of this comes from the basic biology of the fish you may be seeking.

Spotted seatrout, for example, move into the warm, shallow waters of bays in the spring to spawn around seagrass beds through the summer. A young female will lay thousands of eggs, while older and larger females lay over a million eggs at a time. However, only an extremely small percent of these eggs will hatch and survive to

SUBSCRIPTION

FORM

SUB0518

To order subscriptions simply fill this form out below and mail it to the address below, fax, email or go online.

sizes greater than 28 inches. As a result, our bays will have larger percentages of smaller, younger fish. Evidence of this has been found by TPW Coastal Fisheries staff in their annual spring gill net assessments. In Figure 2, you can see that the size with the largest percentage of spotted seatrout caught was under the legal limit, and the percentages decrease as the size increases. So, where are all the big fish? Well, they are out there, somewhere, but there are statistically less of them.

It is impossible to say just how many times these topics came up during my short internship, but it was more than enough that these issues stayed with me. Hopefully, the data provided answered some questions you may have had, but never thought to ask. Stay safe out on the waters and remember the data you give TPWD surveyors today can help the anglers of tomorrow.

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or tpwd.texas.gov for more info.

GET FREE E-MAG WITH HARDCOPY PURCHA 0.

for $25.0 Order today and receive a 12-month subscription the same rate! at ds frien or and/ bers mem y Hurr y and sign up famil

12 months print - $25.00 or 12 months digital only - $12.00

All subscriptions come with yearly autorenewal.

Subscribing for more than yourself? Please write additional information on a separate sheet of paper.

48 | May 2018

SE!

TSFMAG.com | 49

Pushing the limits sometimes means carefully making your way through tiny creeks in the Everglades to reach the most productive backwater lakes.

S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E

F LY F I S H I N G

PUSHING THE LIMITS I really don’t know where it all started. It may have been the days running the airboat into the extreme backcountry shallows and wading for miles and miles, looking for a redfish with its back out of the water. Or, it might have been after going out to the offshore platforms, donating numerous fly lines to some large cobia and amberjacks. Regardless, I have a passion for taking fly fishing to the extreme. Whether working hard to get into remote areas or making long runs offshore to fight big fish; I just love pushing the limits.

Now, in all honesty, this attitude has cost me a lot of money in fuel and maintenance, owning 3-4 different boats at the same time over the years. Heck, it nearly cost me my life two or three times. But, for me, it is all about the experience and going to the extremes usually provides a better experience (and better stories). Whether it is catching more fish or bigger fish or even seeing more wildlife off the beaten path; it’s what I love.

So just last week I had a sport in for three days of fishing in the Everglades. As with most people who come down to book me, he was mainly interested in catching a tarpon.

Incidentally, due to numerous cold fronts the tarpon fishing was not that great prior to his arrival, and I did not anticipate it getting better. After fishing a long, hard first day and only seeing one tarpon I was able to talk him 50 | May 2018

into going snook fishing in an area where we might also find some baby tarpon. He had a blast and so I asked if he might have interest in exploring a creek way south in the Everglades the next day that I have long hoped to fish but hadn’t had the chance. The trip would require carrying extra fuel and leaving before sunrise and getting back after the sun went down. He decided to go for it.

Now, before I get into the details, I will tell you the day went nothing like I expected. In fact, there were some pretty funny incidents.

So first off, I decided to launch at a small ramp on the property where I live down here to save the $25 launch fee down the road which, incidentally, proved a rather bad idea. More on that later.

We left the ramp about an hour before the sun came up and had about a two-hour boat ride to the mouth of the creek. Now this is where things started going bad. It took another hour and a half to get through the creek into the ponds I wanted to fish. In short, we were three and half hours into the day and had not wet a line.

Things went from bad to worse when I realized that I had forgotten my fly box. That’s right folks...all we had were the flies tied onto the four rods in the rod rack and a couple of rusty used ones I had stuck on the gunnel. I did not tell the customer this – LOL.

Bay Pro 220, 203 & 183

.125 Tough Aluminum Alloy Up to 200 Horsepower Rating 30 Gallon Fuel Tank Lean Post w/Footrest Twin Folding Rear Jump Seats Twin Locking Rod Boxes 20 Gallon Rear Aerated Livewell

Exceleration Pad Hull Performance Up to 55 + MPH Dry Box Storage Compartments 30 Cubic Feet Deluxe Console w/6 Rod Holders and 16 Gallon Aerated Livewell and Side Door Access/Storage Front Bow 48 qt. Cooler w/220 Model

Features vary depending on boat model and size.

www.excel-marine.com

Experience the smooth operation, handling and legendary trustworthiness of Yamaha and an Excel Bay Pro

TSFMAG.com | 51

52 | May 2018

C O N TA C T

Luckily, I did not forget my gear bag and had a hook hone to deal with the dull hooks.

Anyway, the fishing was pretty good in that we landed numerous baby tarpon, one decent snook, and even a handful of largemouth bass.

And, luckily, we never ran out of flies.

In addition, we saw two river otters and a nice eastern diamondback.

My customer was pumped, and it was now time to go, or so I thought.

I tried to start the engine. Yes, you heard right.

Apparently, I had burned a whole tank of fuel on the way down and I had exactly 10 gallons of extra fuel to fill a 12-gallon tank for the return trip.

I am guessing you already see how the day was going to end. Anyway, I started looking at my charts to find any available short cuts and we were up and running – sort of.

Now, when slowly navigating these small creeks there are always lowhanging tree branches. Because of this, I tell my customers to pay close attention to avoid getting whacked in the melon. I should have payed attention to my own safety briefing.

About halfway through the creek a branch caught my shifter and knocked it out of gear. Naturally, I turned around and put the engine back in gear and then turned to look ahead when…whack. Right in the face. SPLASH! Sure was glad I was wearing my kill switch.

Back to the fuel situation. I had planned to fish a few spots on the way back but knowing we were short on fuel, I decided to skip that and also cut back on the throttle, which made for a longer boat ride. Long story short, I ran out of fuel about a quarter mile from the ramp just as the sun was going down. I was then wishing I had paid the $25 launch fee as we had already motored past that ramp two miles back. Luckily, the water was shallow enough to pole the remainder of the way.

All in and all done, the day was a huge success in that we caught fish in a new spot and made it home safely – save for the bark rash on my cheek. Now all I can do is think about what’s next.

Maybe fishing my way across Florida Bay from the ‘glades to Key West. That would definitely qualify as extreme in a flats skiff.

Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer.

Telephone Email Website

979-415-4379 vssommerlatte@hotmail.com www.mangrovefly.com

NEW -GEAR-

kvd series Push your performance. The all-new KVD Signature series by Plano® gives quick access to your gear so you can fish fast and fish first.

•

Designed by 8-Time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam

•

Two sizes of tackle bags and two wormfile speedbags available

•

Customizable storage with unmatched access TSFMAG.com | 53

How beautiful, just drifting along enjoying the view is good for the soul.

DAV E R O B E R T S

K AYA K F I S H I N G C H R O N I C L E S

WHY I STILL LOVE KAYAK FISHING A while back, helping at the Fishing Tackle Unlimited booth during the Houston Fishing Show, it came up during conversation that TSFMag was looking for somebody to take over their monthly kayak column.

Camille Null was kind enough to accompany me to their booth a couple aisles away and introduce me to the editor, Everett Johnson. We had a discussion of what the position entailed and, well, the rest is history. It seems like yesterday but in reality, the May 2018 issue will mark three years of me writing for the magazine. I remember my first article - Why I Kayak Fish - and at the time I figured it would be a simple topic to cover, much like the sport we love.

A lot has changed in the sport of kayak fishing since then. Not just the rapid evolution of the kayaks we fish from, but I have also noticed sweeping changes in fishing techniques since the first day I slid a kayak into the water.

My personal fishing habits have also changed greatly through the years. I have been fortunate to be able to also purchase a skiff, and it also gets used fairly often. And though the skiff has certain advantages, I still find time to take my Jackson Cuda to the marsh. My friends evidently see it differently as they often ask, “Now that you own a skiff, why are you still fishing from a kayak?”

The answer is really quite simple: Kayak fishing 54 | May 2018

provides a unique opportunity and experience that cannot be duplicated.

Fishing from a kayak provides advantages that are just not available to boat fisherman. As anglers, we know that a kayak can access waters that boats can never get to. And, once we’re there, I honestly believe one of the greatest advantages is what I call being able to fish an area properly. By that I mean we routinely position our kayaks along a bank or shoreline and make casts parallel to it. Any fish cruising or feeding there is going to notice our lure. Whether they eat it is another question.

When fishing from a boat, the majority of your casts can only be made in a somewhat perpendicular fashion to the bank. So, which method is more likely to draw a strike – the one where the lure is pulled through the most target-rich zone during the full length of the retrieve, or the one that is quickly pulled away from that zone? It should be no surprise that I catch 2x to 3x more fish from my kayak than my boat.

Along with fishing an area properly, another great advantage of the kayak is the ability to navigate promising waters in stealthy fashion. Unless you have done it, it is impossible to explain the rush you get when vertically jigging a 30-inch redfish right beside the kayak!

Or a school of reds swimming toward you and passing

EL PESCADOR

RECOGNIZED AS TEXAS’ PREMIER CUSTOMIZED BOAT

24CAT New 21CAT Now Available THE SMALLER VERSION OF OUR 24CAT

Experience the Ultimate

Fast, Dry, and Smooth Ride with El Pescador Boats - 24 or 21CAT

SPECIFICATIONS • Overall length 24’4” • Beam - 101’

• Draft - 7.5” • Will run in 4”

• Will get up in 10” • Hull weight 1620 lbs.

• Maximum 300HP • Fuel capacity - 60 gallons

For more information or a demo ride, call

979-292-5144

ElPescadorBoats.com TSFMAG.com | 55

C O N TA C T

directly underneath. I have had them bump into my kayak and even been splashed a couple of times.

And the ability to view the other creatures of the marsh thriving in their habitat. I have seen coyotes, pigs, gators, bobcats, otters and more. Every bit of nature is exciting to observe behaving naturally in their environment. I honestly believe I would not have been able to experience as much of this if not in my kayak.

Another great aspect of kayak fishing that keeps me coming back is the kayak community itself. I consider myself fortunate to have met and made the acquaintance of great people from Texas and others from across the country.

Each of them has the same enthusiasm as the next when it comes to kayak fishing. Several have invited me for a visit and offered the chance to experience the fishing in their world. Reaching out later, they were kind enough to give me a place to sleep, feed me and put me on some fish. That kind of hospitality is nearly unheard of in some circles but common in the kayak community.

I also have made friends here locally. If not for kayak fishing, these associations between anglers would likely not have happened. I never thought that a fishing sport could connect people in this way. Hell, I met one of my best friends and tournament partner during a chance encounter at the boat ramp one morning. I hope to continue to make friends and meet new people in the kayak community.

As time keeps ticking away, none of us are getting any younger. To some I am old, but to most I am still young – even if I don’t always feel it. A majority of my physical activity comes from this sport and if it was not for that, I doubt I would be as healthy. I have paddled alongside people old enough to be my grandfather, and they kept up all day.

Seeing this makes me a firm believer that if you want to live a long life, kayaking is a great way to keep you going!

The other part of it all is that kayaking creates an excellent way for me to get away from the daily headaches we must all put up with. Fishing is not my main job but it is always a great escape from the other realities. One of my favorite things about kayaking is that you are not going anywhere fast. You are forced to take it easy, observe your surroundings and just slow down. I look at it as a way to step off the hamster wheel and get out of the rat race for a day.

That being said, all these factors add up to reasons that keep me coming back. I have been kayaking ten years now and it has led to a life I only dreamed of. When I get on the water, I have learned to appreciate the little things; sunrises and sunsets, surrounded by nature, and people you enjoy sharing the outdoors with.

I have said it before and I will continue to say it and live by it – catching fish is merely a bonus. Get on the water and enjoy life.

56 | May 2018

Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico.

Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com

Almost within arm’s reach. I doubt this pelican would have posed this way had I been in my boat.

Here’s a rare one, and what a treat!

At weigh-in with Chad, tired but happy!

2018 STATE OF TEXAS ANGLERS’ RODEO

CCA TEXAS · TEXAS FORD DEALERS · TILSON HOMES · CAPITAL FARM CREDIT

Game On!

You Can Win Big!

CCA

Mem b Ages ers 6-17 Fis

h ST

FREEAR !

$ 1,000,000

IN PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

MAY 26 – SEPT 3 19 BOATS · 5 TRUCKS · 3 UVs

Including StarKid and StarTeen Divisions

HOUSTON

Enter to receive a FREE, ONE-YEAR DIGITAL subscription to Texas Fish & Game Magazine!

713.626.4222

By entering the CCA TEXAS STAR you have a chance to win a 2018 FORD F-150 “TEXAS EDITION” XLT SuperCab, Boats, Prizes, Scholarships and more! PHOTOS ARE FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSES ONLY

ccatexas.org

s t a r t o u r n a m e TSFMAG.com n t . o r |g57

Materials such as concrete pipe and cinder block provide excellent low-profile structure within reefing sites.

Story by John Blaha | Photos by Lisa Laskowski

T S F M A G C O N S E R VAT I O N N E W S

CCA TEXAS COMMITMENT TO NEARSHORE REEFING SURPASSES $1.5 MILLION CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust (BCT) recently approved CCA Texas’s 2018 Habitat Plan and with that approval, CCA Texas and BCT have now committed $1.565 million to nearshore reefing along the Texas coast. This commitment is cemented by continued active fundraising to provide necessary funds for the deployment of more materials into current and future permitted sites along the Texas coast.

CCA Texas and BCT are and have been active partners in nine nearshore projects along the Texas coast in the last eight years. These projects include: Sabine HI20 Reef; Galveston Big Man Reef; Galveston Kate’s Reef; Freeport Vancouver; Matagorda; Port O’Connor Keeping It Wild; Corpus Christi / Packery Channel; Port Mansfield; and Rio Grande Valley Reef.

Freeport’s Vancouver nearshore project was the first site CCA Texas was involved in. CCA Texas contributed $50,000 to the project and secured over 100 concrete culverts and catch basins of different sizes through donations from Old Castle Precast in Houston. In addition, 24 granite and limestone blocks ranging in weights from 2 to 16 tons were also deployed. Since the material deployments by CCA Texas in August of 2010, Texas 58 | May 2018

Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has deployed an additional 800 pyramids into the site. In the 2018 Habitat planning meeting, CCA Texas and BCT recently funded an additional $10,000 to this nearshore reefing area. These dollars will be used to deploy between 40 and 50 reefing pyramids that have been donated by Atlantis Marine Habitats. This work is expected to be completed by the end of April 2018.

As CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) habitat initiative began to grow, one of the HTFT committee’s goals was to see a permitted nearshore reefing site out of every Texas port. Some sites were already permitted by TPWD, and others were to still come. CCA Texas approached TPWD about permitting an area out of Port O’Connor and committed the funds to pay for the permitting process. As the permit process was progressing, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s Keeping it Wild Campaign for Texas picked the Port O’Connor nearshore site as one of its project areas.

Through the efforts of the TPWD Foundation, CCA, and BCT, $1.0 million were raised to deploy 500 reefing pyramids into the site in early 2017. In addition, Shell Oil contributed the funds to deploy an additional 100 reefing

THE CHIQUITA The Chiquita is a proven fishing platform. It is very stable, light weight, and is the extreme shallow water boat. Handling the chop is one of its many assets keeping its passengers dry.

THE PATRIOT

The Patriot is a true compression style tunnel with a flat pad. The advantages of this style tunnel include added flotation, lift, compression and a soft, dry ride.

The flat pad on the sponsons makes for superior shallow water maneuvering and capabilities

THE WARRIOR The Warrior is a true compression style tunnel with a dropped pad. The advantages of this style tunnel include added flotation, lift, compression and a soft, dry ride. The flat pad on the sponsons makes for superior shallow water maneuvering and capabilities. The added length helps offsets the heavier engines maintaining the shallow draft and compliments the all ready soft, smooth ride.

Other Engines Are Avaialble.

Freedom Boats USA LLC • (361)552-4975 • 3534A US Hwy 87 • Port Lavaca, TX 77979

www.FreedomBoatsUSA.com

TSFMAG.com | 59

pyramids within the site. CCA Texas and BCT have contributed $700,000 to the Port O’Connor Reefing Site The Corpus Christi/Packery Channel nearshore site began receiving materials in the spring of 2013 and over 100 culverts and catch basins, and 470 reefing pyramids were deployed. In October 2015, the 155 foot freighter Kinta was sunk within the site, providing more diverse marine life habitat and recreational diving and fishing opportunities. This project exhibits the power of community support and partnerships through the efforts of TPWD, Saltwater Enhancement Association and CCA Texas.

The Lower Texas coast nearshore waters have benefited from the efforts of TPWD, CCA Texas, BCT, Friends of RGV Reef (FRGVR) and others with multiple deployments in the Port Mansfield and Rio Grande Valley Reef out of South Padre Island. CCA Texas and TPWD teamed up to deploy over 4,000 culverts into the Port Mansfield site. These culverts were donated by Alamo Concrete. These culverts provided immediate and close fishing opportunities for recreational anglers out of Port Mansfield and continue to provide angling opportunities.

The Rio Grande Valley site grew from a dream of local recreational anglers Bob and Gary Glick to a 1,600-acre permitted reefing site. This site is the largest ever permitted in the state of Texas and FRGVR is setting the bar high in effort and the amount of materials that have been deployed into the site. To date 50 plus reefing pyramids, over 87,000 cinder blocks, low relief concrete rubble, and a shrimp boat and tug boat have been deployed into this reefing site.

In 2018, 7,000 tons of concrete railroad ties will be deployed creating a complex pile of habitat for marine species of all types. CCA Texas and BCT have now contributed $405,000 to this reefing site. FRGVR has laid the foundation of future nearshore reef habitat for the entire Texas coast by implementing varied forms of small, medium and high relief materials that ultimately create at life cycle reef for all age classes of fish.

The Upper Texas coast nearshore waters will begin seeing the benefits of the TPWD Nearshore Reefing Program in 2018. CCA Texas and BCT have committed $200,000 to the Sabine HI20 nearshore site and $250,000 to Galveston’s Big Man and Kate’s Reef sites. Efforts are underway to deploy 200 granite and limestone blocks, and one barge into the Sabine HI20 site in spring of 2018. Several thousand tons of concrete railroad ties will be deployed into the Big Man and Kate’s Reef sites in the summer of 2018. BCT recently met with industry leaders in the Golden Triangle to garner further support for nearshore reefing projects in the area. Partnerships are critical to make these habitat projects reality, and CCA Texas and BCT are leading the way to provide recreational angling opportunities along the entire Texas coast.

For more information about CCA Texas’s and BCT habitat efforts along the Texas coast, please contact John Blaha, CCA Texas Director of Habitat, at jdblaha@ccatexas.org or Sean Stone, Building Conservation Trust Executive Director, at sstone@buildingconservation.org. Both may also be reached at (713) 626-4222.

60 | May 2018

Pre-cast concrete and steel pyramids offer mid-relief structure, essential in attracting fish of various ages to artificial reefs.

This type of pyramid encourages large gamefish to inhabit reef sites. Note the openings where smaller specimens can seek refuge.

CCA Texas Upcoming Events: May 3rd – Ft. Worth and San Antonio Banquets May 4th – Texas A&M Banquet May 10th – Austin, Home Builders and West Houston Banquets May 11th – Mainland Banquet May 17th – Katy Banquet May 18th – Colorado Valley Banquet and Babes on the Bay Captains Meeting May 19th – Babes on the Bay and the 7th Annual CCA Concert for Conservation May 24th – Golden Triangle and Laredo Banquets May 31st – Greater Woodlands

TSFMAG.com | 61

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

DEAD ZONES When it comes to the health of our oceans, we mainly think about what we can see happening at the surface.

Bleak predictions of the immense scale of plastic pollution often dominate the headlines, but another catastrophe is brewing below those blue crests, a potentially serious consequence of global warming that has come to light only recently: deoxygenation. Our oceans are being suffocated. The deep reserves of oxygen are disappearing, and the consequences may reach far beyond the shorelines.

Oxygen-minimum zones, AKA “dead zones,” aren’t a new phenomenon. They’ve been around for hundreds of millions of years and occur throughout the world every summer until plunging water temperatures, and often hurricanes, mix oxygen from the surface layers back into the depths each fall. However, today, they’re expanding rapidly, and they aren’t being entirely driven by natural processes. Since the mid-20th century, dead zones in the open ocean have quadrupled in size, and those along the coast have increased by a factor of ten. That means the open ocean dead zones have expanded in size by roughly 46 percent of the area of the US. The hundreds of dead zones throughout the world cover about 8 percent of the total oceanic area. Collectively, nearly 10 million tons of biomass either moves from or dies in dead zones every year.

Deoxygenation is worsening in the open ocean mainly as a result of the increasing global temperature. As a physical rule, warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen.

As surface waters warm due to climate change, the ocean loses its ability to hold oxygen, leading to an oxygen decline. Additionally, because warm water is less dense, warmer surface waters result in a more stratified (layered) water column, which reduces the likelihood of oxygenrich surface waters mixing with oxygen-starved deeper waters. In coastal margins, deoxygenation is being driven by increasing loads of nutrients from agriculture, sewage, and industrial waste. Nitrate and phosphorous-rich pollution trigger a bloom in phytoplankton populations.

When they inevitably die off in vast numbers, they sink, and the bacteria that break them down consume enormous amounts of oxygen.

Although there are extremophiles in the oceans that can live perfectly happily without oxygen, it’s necessary for most life on Earth, and it affects the physical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. Though a complete absence of oxygen, called anoxia, is rare in the modern ocean, ocean anoxic events (OAEs) have occurred 62 | May 2018

irregularly throughout geologic history. They were often associated with warmer climate conditions, rises in sea levels, and occasionally with mass extinctions. Given the current state of rising global temperatures and sea levels, an understanding of the time scales and mechanisms of past OAEs is necessary to predict the future spread of existing dead zones.

The Cretaceous Period, the last age of dinosaurs, was the stage for a 50,000-year-long deoxygenation event, known as Ocean Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2), and resulted in a major extinction event. The spinosaurs, pliosaurs, and possibly even the ichthyosaurs all died out at the same time, along with 27 percent of all marine invertebrates. Rising temperatures and volcanic activity (due to continental shifting) enhanced nutrient delivery, priming the oceans for anoxic events. Primary producer populations, such as algae, exploded in response to the high nutrient availability, in turn multiplying the numbers of oxygen-consuming heterotrophic bacteria, and leading to a progressive expansion in anoxic portions of the ocean. There was not enough oxygen left in the ocean to support all the life within it, and most of that life could not escape. In the modern oceans, marine oxygen has decreased by 2 percent over roughly the last half century, and recent models predict a continued loss of 0.5 to 3.5 percent over the next half century. Without positive human intervention, studies of ancient OAEs are likely to become practical applications in the not-so-distant future.

Besides the dependence of marine life, oxygen plays a direct role in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and many other biogeochemically important elements, such as phosphorus, iron, manganese, etc.

(Biogeochemistry explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment; it is the study of how chemical elements flow through living systems and their physical environments.)

Dissolved oxygen is the most commonly measured property of seawater that is sensitive to biological cycles (like the carbon cycle) and is therefore the first place to look for changes in ocean biogeochemistry in a warming world. Think of it as an indicator ‘species.’

Oxygen levels also control the oceanic production of nitrous oxide, a rarely spoken about but incredibly potent greenhouse gas. Although its ‘lifespan’ is shorter than carbon dioxide, which can spend centuries in the atmosphere, nitrous oxide traps heat nearly 300 times more effectively than its more famous cousin. That

TSFMAG.com | 63

makes it an incredibly effective catalyst for climate change, and as oxygen levels go down, nitrous oxide goes up, potentially amplifying global warming.

A few prediction models have been run extending hundreds, even thousands, of years into the future, assuming no positive human intervention. Due to the slow turnover of deep waters, these models show continuing deoxygenation for 1000+ years, even after carbon dioxide levels stop rising. The declines in the total dissolved oxygen levels are as large as 30%, with substantial increases in the extent of hypoxia and suboxia. Hypoxic areas are regions where oxygen deficiency is detrimental to most organisms; oxygen concentrations are roughly 70-90% lower than the mean surface concentrations.

Suboxic areas are regions where oxygen is so low that most life cannot be sustained and water chemistry is significantly altered; concentrations are 98% lower than the mean surface concentrations.

A 2011 study found that 1°C of warming throughout the upper ocean will result in the increase of hypoxic areas by 10% and a tripling of the volume of suboxic waters. A highly optimistic emissions scenario of rising carbon dioxide levels would lead to 1.2°C of warming by 2100. Therefore, these declines in oxygen are changes we should be prepared to see.

If you want a glimpse of the near future, just take a look at the dead zone in our own Gulf. Although oxygen depletion occurs naturally in some parts of the ocean, such as fjords and deep basins, the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone is caused by humans. Every spring, the Mississippi River funnels a deluge of nitrates, phosphorus, and other nutrients into the Gulf, fueling an explosion of phytoplankton growth. The bloom of life for the algae is short lived, and they sink into the depths, where their corpses give rise to a burst in bacterial growth. The bacteria rapidly consume not only the plankton, but also all of the oxygen. Simultaneously, the incoming river water forms a layer on the surface of the Gulf (another form of stratification), preventing new oxygen from dissolving and mixing with the depleted waters below. Creatures that do not flee suffocate, as do all stationary species and plant life.

The nutrients are primarily from agriculture – excessive amounts of manure and fertilizer drain into the streams and rivers that eventually feed into the Gulf. The USGS operates more than 3,000 real-time stream gauges, 60 real-time nitrate sensors, and tracks trends in nutrient loads and concentrations throughout the Mississippi-Atchafalaya watershed, which drains parts or all of 31 states. In May 2017, the USGS estimated that 165,000 metric tons of nitrate – about 2,800 train cars of fertilizer – and 22,600 metric tons of phosphorus flowed down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers into the Gulf of Mexico. The heavy May stream flows, which were about 34 percent above the long-term average, coupled with the massive nutrient load resulted in the largest dead zone ever recorded. Every summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration commissions scientists to venture out into the Gulf to measure our recurring dead zone. They determined in August 2017 that the Gulf of Mexico dead zone was 8,776 square miles, an area about the size of New Jersey. It is the largest measured, by almost 50 percent, since dead zone mapping began in 1985. Even though the measurements broke records, they fell short of the actual size. The team of scientists said the entire area of the dead zone couldn’t be mapped due to an insufficient number of workable days on the ship. There was more hypoxia to the west, so the 64 | May 2018

measured size would have been larger if there had been more time.

Though the oxygen loss is temporary, the effects can be permanent, and there is already evidence that it is chronically affecting the reproduction of some species.

Significant oxygen declines have also been reported along the western shelf of North America. Off the central Oregon coast, a wide region was exposed to severe hypoxia in 2002, resulting in massive fish and crab die-offs, and surveys in 2006 revealed the widespread occurrence of not just hypoxia but also anoxia. Such occurrences of anoxia and widespread hypoxia are unprecedented in the previous 50 years. Declines were also noted from 1984 to 2004 over an array of stations off the coast of Southern California. The only benefit out of all this is that fish escaping the underwater apocalypse end up swimming to the surface layers, making them easier to catch, just as the Pacific cod have done along the Japanese continental slope and blue marlin and tuna have done in the tropical Atlantic. Of course, it’s only a short-term benefit, and not really worth the cost.

The science of ocean deoxygenation is still in its early stages.

Nevertheless, there is a convergence of evidence suggesting that significant changes are in store. Together, warming, acidification, and deoxygenation present a triple threat to marine life. The oxygen requirements of marine organisms vary with temperature. Lowoxygen waters also typically have low pH (high acidity), meaning that marine organisms may need to use more energy to maintain acid-base equilibrium, except that their metabolism may be limited by the low oxygen conditions. These interacting effects make it necessary to study the system as a whole, which requires a unified research agenda across the full range of oceanographic disciplines, including physical, biological, and chemical.

Dead zones can be reversed with time and effort. Since climate change is the driving cause of ocean deoxygenation, reducing carbon dioxide emissions is the only real solution, BUT certain other actions, especially at a local level, can help protect oxygensensitive marine resources. Chesapeake Bay had a similar dead zone problem. In 2010, despite fierce objections from farmers, the federal government set mandatory limits on nutrient pollution entering the bay, accomplished by making major advances in wastewater treatment, sediment and storm water controls, soil management practices, and more selective and precise applications of fertilizer. State governments spent billions of dollars to meet those targets. Now pollution in the bay is down, and some wildlife in the Chesapeake is starting to recover.

To mitigate the Gulf’s dead zone, federal and state agencies are encouraging Midwestern farmers to try to keep nutrients from washing away by doing such things as planting wide grassy strips along streams to trap fertilizer runoff. New initiatives such as the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast are designed to help farmers apply fertilizer at optimum times to limit nutrient runoff. A study of crop management systems released by Iowa State University showed that rotating corn and soybean crops, despite using nearly 90 percent less fertilizer, resulted in increased yields, improved soil quality, and 25 percent decreased soil erosion, all without decreasing profitability.

However, even if enough farmers jumped on the bandwagon – possibly through such tactics as policy changes, financial incentives, and technical assistance – and runoff is substantially reduced, it could be 10 to 20 years before the Gulf shows visible improvement.

We rely on our oceans more than most people realize. Not only

TSFMAG.com | 65

are they an incredible carbon sink (removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby preventing a disastrously warm world), they also produce half of all the oxygen in the world (thank you, phytoplankton). Plus… sushi. We’ll never completely halt climate change, and we’ll probably never completely stamp out pollution, but we can stall both.

United Nations Educational, Scientific, & Cultural Organization www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/sections-andprogrammes/ocean-sciences/global-ocean-oxygen-network/

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. ~John Muir

National Geographic news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/gulf-mexico-hypoxia-water-qualitydead-zone/

Where I learned about dead zones, and you can too!

Science Advances advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/8/e1701020.full Annual Reviews /www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.marine.010908.163855 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-usgs-and-partners-predict-third-largestgulf-of-mexico-summer-dead-zone-ever www.noaa.gov/media-release/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-is-largest-evermeasured US Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/ms-htf

66 | May 2018

Ocean Scientists for Informed Policy www.oceanscientists.org/index.php/topics/ocean-deoxygenation

Phys.org phys.org/news/2017-08-gulf-mexico-dead-zone-disaster.html NPR www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/03/541222717/the-gulf-of-mexicosdead-zone-is-the-biggest-ever-seen The Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/08/04/gulfof-mexico-dead-zone-is-larger-than-ever-heres-what-to-do-about-it/?utm_ term=.1b7970cf5709 IFL Science www.iflscience.com/environment/earths-oceans-choking-death-thankspollution-climate-change/all/ www.iflscience.com/environment/oceans-riddled-death-nearfuture/ www.iflscience.com/environment/record-breaking-dead-zone-in-gulf-ofmexico-due-to-meat-industry/

UR-Cut Fillet Knives

The only custom moldable handle fillet knife.

Before Ergonomically perfect.

Virtually non-slip.

Unmatched comfort. After Unmatched control.

Mold at home in minutes.

Dexter UR-CUT fillet knives feature DEXSTEEL: offering sharp, easy-to-resharpen edges and just-right flexibility.

Learn more at dexteroutdoors.com TSFMAG.com | 67

Charles Smith shows a redfish landed from a windward shoreline.

Redfish numbers are looking good on the mid-coast bays.

CURTISS CASH

I N S H O R E | N E A R S H O R E | J E T T I E S | PA S S E S

MAY KICKOFF TO

WARM SEASON FISHING RED SNAPPER As of late there has been much talk concerning the 2018 federal red snapper season. Changes are coming, but the exact details are yet to be finalized. What we do know is that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will ultimately make the decisions for us. Hopefully, by midMay they will announce the dates and number of days we will be allowed to fish.

The season historically begins on June 1 and continues for any number of days until the recreational catch quota is filled. The total allowable number of pounds in the quota is predetermined by the council. For years there have been much controversy over the data used to determine the allowable catch.

Earlier this year the Texas Parks and Wildlife took the bull by the horns. TPWD submitted an EFP (Exempted Fishing Permit) application to the National Marine Fisheries Service. This was in the form of a request to manage the recreational red snapper fishery during the 2018 and 2019 red snapper season in federal waters.

Who better to manage our red snapper fishery than TPWD? Nobody I can think of; especially considering their past successes in managing inshore species.

The EFP would allow TPWD to manage the length

68 | May 2018

of the season based upon their data as to the amount of fish harvested by recreational anglers. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a division of NOAA, will ultimately determine the total allowable catch (poundage) for Texas.

The minimum allowable quota should be 711,599 pounds, which would allow an estimated 64-day season.

TPWD actually requested 1,077,280 pounds, which would allow for an estimated 104-day season.

TPWD’s request is backed by scientific data of the expected existing biomass totaling 16% of the allowable take from the entire Gulf of Mexico. It is estimated that the red snapper biomass off the Texas coast accounts for 42% of the red snapper in the Gulf.

The federal quotas are based on pounds of fish caught, not numbers of fish. To put these facts and figures into perspective, let’s consider the average fish to be 23-inches long and weighing 7-pounds. These estimates will allow Texas anglers to harvest from 101,000 to upwards of 154,000 red snapper during the 2018 season.

Using proven data and real-time statistical catch rates, the season should run its course in an unaltered nature.

If the overall allowable catch quota is estimated to have been filled, the season will be closed at that time. With all

TSFMAG.com | 69

of this in mind, there is no change expected in red snapper regulations in Texas state waters (out to nine nautical miles) where recreational anglers can retain four red snapper per day during a 365-day season.

No matter how you slice it, the 2018 and 2019 prospects for Texas red snapper anglers are much brighter than anything we have seen in recent years, if the EFP is as it has been announced is implemented.

TPWD will be collecting additional harvest and effort data over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. This will allow them to better manage this important Texas marine resource in the future.

BAY FISHING May is easily the most anticipated month of the year for me. Pleasant weather, light crowds (lighter than summer) and awesome fishing.

This month really lights up with the overall fish availability in the bays.

Abundant forage flows in from the Gulf, followed closely by gamefish that we see only seasonally. We can start relying upon tripletail, tarpon, ladyfish, schools of big jacks, bull reds, and lots of sharks. This is when “big fish” season starts for me in the bay.

TRIPLETAIL I start looking for tripletail once the water reaches and maintains 76⁰ in the open bay. The fish begin to trickle in as early as mid-April, but long about mid-May is when they really begin to appear in targetable numbers. I always have a medium-heavy spinning rod rigged with a 24” trace of 40lb mono leader, terminating with a 4/O J-hook. This rig will be at the ready in case a tripletail or cobia cruise by the boat. A live shrimp or small croaker tempts most surface cruising fish. Often, we’ll see a tripletail floating on its side along a current seam while traveling in the bay or nearshore.

TARPON The tarpon follow bait migrations, traveling up the coast from Mexico in May. The exact date they will arrive is anybody’s guess.

Once I begin hearing of tarpon sightings or landings near the Packery Channel down by Corpus Christi, I start looking for them near Port O’Connor. I’ve seen them sporadically in multiple areas of 70 | May 2018

Big jack crevalle wreak havoc on bait schools near ship channels this month.

Buoy-sinking flood tides concentrate bait and gamefish in ship channels.

Large ladyfish make for big fun this month and provide great cut bait.

mid-coast bays, but the common denominator is always menhaden.

The surf zone and out to about forty-foot depths are my main focus when the weather allows me to venture nearshore. Just like in the bays, I look for menhaden schools.

LADYFISH Skipjack, poor man’s tarpon or whatever name you prefer, I like them!

We’ll have some bruisers show up early in the month, long and lean drag-burning 24-inchers. Schools of smaller ladies are often found in open water under flocks of small terns, the ones they call liar birds. I enjoy catching them no matter the size – lots of fun and they all make excellent bait. Most any kind of light lure or spoon about an inch long will catch them, and 1/8-ounce speck rigs are pure dynamite. I cut as many as we need for bait into “steaked” chunks one inch wide for reds on the flats and three inches wide for bull reds in deep water.

BULL REDS AND JACK CREVALLE Both of these species school predictably this month taking advantage of forage pouring into the bay. I target them on each series of flood tides that occur near the full and new moons. Large schools can be found in and near Gulf passes and channels and wherever ribbonfish, menhaden and mullet are most abundant. The current often carries the bait farther into the bay via the deeper ship channels. The big reds and jacks can be found nearby working the current seams.

No matter what species you target this month, your catches should be plentiful. The food source is increasing and concentrating the gamefish. Get out on the water as soon as possible before the summer crowds arrive.

C O N TA C T

Author displays an “average” 7-pound red snapper from federal water off Port O’Connor.

Capt. Curtiss Cash offers charters in the Port O’Connor area; specializing in fishing the bays, passes, jetties, surf and nearshore waters. Species targeted include speckled trout, redfish, flounder, tripletail, black drum, bull reds, sharks, snapper, kingfish, ling and tarpon, when seasonally available.

Phone

361-564-7032

TSFMAG.com | 71

Billy Sandifer with a tiger shark

E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D

ERIC OZOLINS

THE PADRE OF PADRE ISLAND Texas beaches can be a tough place for fishermen, some places tougher than others. Padre Island National Seashore is perhaps toughest of all. Raked by relentless wind more than half the year, not to mention a host of other adverse conditions, Mother Nature constantly tests our mettle. It takes a certain breed.

Your passion and soul must be as salty as the crashing waves. Frustrations mount as you wait hours and days to capitalize on opportunity, but there are definitely rewards to be earned. There are but a handful of individuals willing and able to endure the hardships, fewer still that have done it for decades. Those who do become legends.

On Good Friday 2018, my good friend and mentor, Captain Billy L. Sandifer, lost his battle with cancer. He was 70. Sandifer was my predecessor conducting shark charters on the National Seashore more than twenty years. As many already know, Billy was also a longtime contributor to this magazine. His photos and iconic writings attracted a huge fanbase, touching many lives, including mine.

Billy and I were similar in many ways and he was most responsible for helping influence my lifestyle and what I do for a living. Our conversations would often revolve around about just being one with Mother Ocean and the values of respecting the great creatures of land and sea.

From his shark obsession to natural history addiction, 72 | May 2018

from his spiritualistic views to the undeniable passion for outdoor life, Billy was larger than life. Over time he became a father figure to me and I am both blessed and honored to have been so close to him.

I knew of Billy Sandifer before I ever got to meet him.

Fresh out of high-school and living in Austin, I was on the verge of moving to Corpus Christi to attend Texas A&M University. I was becoming more independent and making weekend voyages to the coast to (shark) fish from the local gulf piers.

One day I came upon a full-page story in the Austin American Statesman that featured Billy. It told of him catching a variety of incredible fish, including sharks, all from the beach, and it made a huge impression. I began to research surf and shark fishing, poring over everything I could find.

In the earliest days of the internet, there was a web forum called Coastal Shark Fishing. David Williams ran it and had attracted a growing membership who collaborated on shark fishing and often fished together.

Many Texas shark fishing enthusiasts met and became friends through Coastal Shark Fishing.

Williams, known in those circles as Beach Bum, organized outings he called Bum Runs, and in June 2001 the first Bum Run was held on Padre Island. I tagged along with the late, legendary rod builder, Artie Hebert.

Arriving in Corpus, we met up with Williams at the local

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

TROKAR Competitors’ Hooks

PENETRATES

2X BETTER

©2018 EAGLE CLAW FISHING TACKLE | DENVER, COLORADO | EAGLECLAW.COM TK197 TSFMAG.com | 73

island gas station-convenience store. It was the ideal meeting place where you could fill up your tank and get all your last-minute beach supplies.

Talking there in the parking lot, up walked a man who spoke in deep, raspy voice. “Hey there,” he greeted us.

I noticed he was wearing a shark tooth necklace that would rival anything you have ever seen. David and Artie introduced me to the already legendary Billy Sandifer. Somewhat of a shy individual back then, I was too awed to speak.

I was completely mesmerized by their conversation and especially the details of the day’s beach charter he had just finished. Even back then, the way he presented his stories had an overwhelming effect. He made it sound as though the “Big Shell” was the last untamed land and that anyone venturing there would do well to proceed with caution. I shook his hand and off he went as we departed for our journey.

Obsessed with the beach, I moved to Corpus Christi in 2002. When not in class or working at Breakaway Tackle, I was fishing the surf, chasing sharks with a passion. Billy would drive by often, stop to offer a friendly wave, and then drive on. It wasn’t long until he gave me the temporary nickname of Sea Gull; saying I was down the beach more than anyone he knew, and thus I must be related to the sea gulls!

It wasn’t until that summer that I landed my first “big” fish from the beach. Not a shark, but a giant tarpon that took a shark bait and gave me a fierce thirty-minute battle. Believing I had a shark, I went out to leader it and noticed the glowing eyes of the behemoth – an honest seven-footer.

A true milestone in my career, that fish put me on the map, so to speak.

Billy told of it in one of his articles, touting proudly how I was able to make a successful release. We soon began to enjoy regular conversations and I credit that fish as my invitation to join his very small and heavily guarded circle of friends.

As the years passed we became better friends. He took me under his wing and became my beach mentor.

74 | May 2018

Billy releasing 8-foot bull.

Billy with little tunny caught in the surf.

Oz and Billy tagging shark.

Whenever I had a shark story, nobody seemed to enjoy it more than Billy, and vice versa. Sharks were our bond and in our blood.

Billy, like most shark anglers of the early-era routinely killed sharks. But one day he changed. Perhaps he saw the passion and dedication of the next generation (including me) that led him to feel obligated to promote conservation.

Both Sandifer and Williams played key roles in helping turn our sport around at a time when it needed it the most.

Sandifer and Williams encouraged us to tag and release our sharks – and we did.

Despite internet drama and a few rebels, they stood their ground. Little did I know at the time Billy was grooming me to be his successor in shark fishing lore.

Not too many years later, Billy’s health failing, sharking took a back seat to light tackle surf fishing in his charter work.

Still an up-and-comer, I had only begun to excel in the sport of shark fishing.

With everything he taught me, I would add a little to the top, becoming more technical and scientific in my pursuit of sharks from the beach.

December 7, 2003 was a day when I believe I made him exceptionally proud.

That day marked my first large mako from the sand – tagged and released.

Through all his years of dedicated effort, Billy was never fortunate to land a beach mako. Let me qualify that statement by adding that mine was only the secondever landed from a Texas beach and the first to be tagged and released.

That day when he drove by and I told him about the release, his eyes became the size of jellyfish and his smile the size of Texas itself. Perhaps he saw something special in me, something advantageous for the sport, or maybe just a reflection of himself. Nonetheless, I was and remain humbled by the compliments he gave me. Billy, you see, just didn’t go around complimenting everybody he met.

Billy also introduced me to the world of birding and I have been honored to accompany both he and Mel Cooksey at the same time. To understand that a man so focused on the aquatic world appreciated other forms of nature is awe inspiring to me.

I spent a lot of time at Billy’s house and he spoke freely about any and

TSFMAG.com | 75

Young Oz with first tagged beach mako.

C O N TA C T

everything. Tales of days of old, upcoming weather conditions or beach ghost stories, it was worth every minute I spent with him. I wish I could have spent even more time with him to absorb even more knowledge.

Billy Sandifer led a rugged and adventurous life and many who knew him lived vicariously through his stories. Billy believed he had spiritual connections to the coyote and the Karankawa. He endured Mother Ocean’s wrath like no one else you are likely to meet. His countless days just being down the beaches of Padre Island, blasted by wind and sand and pounded by breaking surf were testament to his will and endurance, and it served him well. When no other soul cared enough about the beach he founded the Big Shell Beach Cleanup, which led to his vision to create Friends of Padre, to insure the work would continue after he was gone.

I was greatly honored this past winter that he accepted an invitation to participate in a TV project I was involved in. Despite his very weak physical condition, it seemed something he really wanted to do, something he perhaps needed to do. To tell his story one last time.

During his on-film interview which is scheduled to air during Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2018, I sat and listened with David Mckee at my side. Billy described from his heart what it had been like “to be” Billy Sandifer – what a tough yet adventurous life it had been – and how he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

His words that day hit me in a way that I understood why the Padre of Padre Island and I were so much more than friends.

76 | May 2018

For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric is the owner of Catch Sharks Tackle Company.

Email Websites

oz@oceanepics.com oceanepics.com | catchsharks.com

TSFMAG.com | 77

P L A S T I C & WAT E R D O N ' T M I X

EVERETT JOHNSON

TSFMAG SALUTES ADOPT-A-BEACH IN

CALHOUN COUNTY

This month’s highlight of volunteer effort goes to the wonderful folks who gather each spring and fall to rid Calhoun County beaches of trash, especially plastic debris. TSFMag is onboard, sponsoring lunch and refreshments for the group during the event scheduled for April 21, 2018. The great folks at Yeti are also onboard and have donated several of their popular Rambler drinkware products as door prizes for the event. Interested parties may contact Rhonda Cummins (see contact info below) to participate in this and future cleanup events.

HIT THE BEACH AND BAG SOME PLASTIC

BY RHONDA CUMMINS

It has been said that everything is bigger in Texas. Over the last 23 years, the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Cleanup at the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) each March comes to mind. As does the Port Mansfield Channel & PINS clean up that spun off of Billy’s which just completed cleanup number 10 in March. Yet, the Adopt-A-Beach program, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office, started in 1986 under Commissioner Gary Mauro. This all volunteer effort hits beaches statewide each April and September, usually on the third Saturday of the month.

Considered the nations’ biggest all-volunteer coastal cleanup, the Adopt-A-Beach coast-wide cleanups in spring and fall take place 1. Individuals and groups attend the cleanups and enjoy fellowship and lunch at the Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Department after their hard work last April. Photo by Rhonda Cummins.

at 27 of Texas’ most popular tourist beaches. “The Texas Coast is a go-to destination for vacationers from all over,” said Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush. “Travelers want to play in the sand under the Texas sun. Late last summer Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast, but the recovery is well underway and this is an opportunity for folks to pitch in and declare that the Texas coast is back in business. The Adopt-A-Beach program has been instrumental in keeping beaches clean for more than three decades, aiding tourism and commercial fishing industries while maintaining the coast for Texas families.”

Plastic is a common theme in all the cleanups. More and more

1

2. Calhoun County Commissioner David Hall and members of his Precinct 1 crew were instrumental in disposing of the 1,820 pounds gathered by 134 volunteers that participated in the April 2017 cleanup.

Photo by Rhonda Cummins.

3. Storm debris from Hurricane Harvey blocks North Ocean Drive. The September cleanup at Magnolia Beach was cancelled because of the impact on the area. Photo

by John Mayne, Magnolia Beach VFD.

78 | May 2018

2

3

The Magnolia Beach check-in site is below water as Harvey’s storm surge takes its toll. Photo by John Mayne, Magnolia Beach VFD.

TSFMAG.com | 79

Cindy Haenel and her husband Ken come down to Port O’Connor from Austin for each cleanup. They always go out to Sunday Beach, returning with a boat-full of trash bags. They are excited to show off their unusual finds like the one she is holding up last September. Photo by Roxanne Ochoa, AAB site coordinator for Kingfisher Beach in Port O’Connor.

plastic is collected every year from the gulf and bay beaches. Whether blown out of vessels, dropped by careless visitors, washed down rivers, or carried by currents of wind and waves, the plastic just keeps coming and coming. And everyone knows that water and plastic do not mix. Marine life and birds are particularly impacted by marine debris, particularly plastics, as it can cause entanglement and be mistaken for food. Ingesting plastic is unhealthy in many ways.

Another common theme for all the cleanups is dedicated volunteers that show up rain or shine to clean the beaches of all types of plastic, cigarette butts, food wrappers, beverage cans, glass bottles, fireworks, construction materials, all types of Styrofoam , fishing gear, tires, household items, etc. The volunteers come from all over and the trash they collect does too. Volunteers record data on the trash to learn more about the causes of marine debris and to help mitigate pollution along Texas’ 367 miles of coastline. Cleanup organizers also work to educate the public about the problems of marine debris and beach litter. This awareness has led to more efforts by groups and individuals year round and is turning the tide on trash.

Rhonda Cummins is the Calhoun County Extension Agent for Coastal and Marine Resources with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and the Texas Sea Grant College Program. She has served as the volunteer coordinator for Magnolia Beach cleanup site since 2009.

Rhonda D. Cummins | Calhoun County Extension Agent Texas Sea Grant College Program | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension p: 361-552-9747 | f: 361-552-6727 | rcummins@tamu.edu 80 | May 2018

Find out for yourself...

How one family can continue providing Ford cars and trucks for 80 years!

SHOP IN CUERO –– OR ––

ONLINE

1402 East Broadway Cuero, TX

1-800-288-7033

www.webermotorcompany.com

B A R R A C U DA G E O C O O L PERFORMANCE SHIRT UPF 50 BLOCKS 98% OF THE S U N ’ S H A R M F U L U V R AYS

3 M ™ S TA I N R E L E A S E

MOISTURE WICKING

DRIRELEASE® GEO COOL TECHNOLOGY

LOCATE A DEALER AT AFTCO.COM

TSFMAG.com | 81

NEW ForEverlast Hunting & Fishing Products Stow & Go G4 Landing Net New for 2018 – ForEverlast announces the Stow & Go G4 Landing Net. Features include easy-to-stow design, durably crafted of rugged aluminum and our rubbercoated net fabric to prevent harming fish when practicing catch and release. This fabric also helps prevent hooks snagging in the net. Easily stash it away for the ride in or out, but make ready in a flash when the fish are biting!! Easy to stow and easy to go! | MSRP - $39.99 Grab yours today at a ForEverlast retailer near you or online at www.ForEverlast.com.

Weber Motor Company The all-new 2018 Ford Expedition is at the top of its game and leading the way. It has best-in-class towing and a muscular 3.5L EcoBoost engine that delivers 375 HP and 470 pounds/feet torque.

A refined and spacious cabin boasts incredible room for both passengers and cargo. Towing capability is impressive. Technology is smart and innovative. You’ll find yourself jumping at the chance to get behind the wheel. So, come test drive one today at Weber Motor Company in Cuero.

As a recipient of Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award for six consecutive years, you can be assured that our customer service is second to none.

Mullet Hollow Body The LIVETARGET Mullet Hollow Body extends the leadership of LIVETARGET’s hollow body lure designs by delivering that experience to saltwater anglers.

Winner of the ICAST 2017 award for Best Saltwater Lure, the Mullet Hollow Body innovates with anatomy, color details, hook design, and especially action. Walk the dog with ease, or simply twitch across the surface to generate a tantalizing bubble trail. Its snag-proof design enables it to be worked through mangroves, skipped under docks, and fished through floating grass. The LIVETARGET Mullet Hollow Body is available in three sizes and three ultra-realistic color patterns with MSRP $13.49-$14.49. www.LiveTargetLures.com 82 | May 2018

www.WeberMotorCompany.com

P R O D U C T S

Z-Man – Trick ShotZ™ The new Trick ShotZ softbait combines an ideal baitfish profile that consistently produces strikes from inshore gamefish like specks and redfish. Composed of Z-Man’s proprietary ElaZtech® soft plastic, this buoyant bait exhibits a perfect, tail-up posture, and the super-tough material resists tearing to outfish and outlast all other competitive baits. Available in 3.5” and 4.2” sizes, its ribbed body, spade tail, and salt-impregnation offer superior action, texture, and taste. Comes in ten versatile colors to insure a match for any locale and conditions. The MSRP is $4.49 for both the 3.5” (6 baits per pack) and 4.2” (5 baits per pack) sizes. www.ZManFishing.com

YETI - Camino™ Carryall 35 Use all three colors: Designed to make any adventure’s dirty work a little easier, the Camino™ Carryall is the perfect all-purpose, here-to-there bag for any and every day. Rugged and to-the-point, Camino is made from the same waterproof, ultra-durable, and easy-to-clean material as the Panga™ Duffel. This tote bag will keep your wet boots and waders contained, keep dry gear inside protected from mud and puddles, and provide a tough barrier from sharp hooks and tools. Never again leave your gear (or your truck) to the mercy of a sloppy bag.

MSRP: $149.99 | www.Yeti.com

Mojo Sportswear – Stillwater Pant Brimming with performance features for all anglers.

The Stillwater Pant is comfortable, lightweight and made with nylon ripstop to ensure durability. The articulated knee allows flexible and easy movement.

Quick drying fabric with belt loops and lanyard clip, roomy front and rear pockets and a nylon-lined tool pocket. The Stillwater Fishing Pant will become your new favorite go-to. Fish Hard and Get Your Mojo On! - 100% Ripstop Supplex Nylon Fabric - Belt Loops and Lanyard Clips - Roomy Front and Rear Pockets - YKK Front Zipper Closure - Large Heavy-Duty Nylon Lined Tool Pocket - Elastic Waistband - Quick Dry Fabric - “Get Your Mojo On!” inner fly surprise - Inseam 32” www.GetYourMojoOn.com TSFMAG.com | 83

ADVERTORIAL

Sinking Twitchbaits

L&S Trout Master

A Seventy Year Tribute to Our Founder, Harold LeMaster

S E V E N TY Y E A R

S

Harold LeMaster will always be remembered for his innovative approach to lure manufacturing. His unique designs with mirrors inside his lures helped create a flashing, lifelike appearance under water. Today each patented MirrOlure® is made with the same care and craftsmanship that Harold demanded.

55-11 3-5/8" Long, 1/2 Oz.

55-27 3-5/8" Long, 1/2 Oz.

SET OF 4 55-28 3-5/8" Long, 1/2 Oz.

55-29 3-5/8" Long, 1/2 Oz.

Set of 4 Trout Master Lures in Special Colors and Packaging

“Sinking Twitchbaits”

In a tribute to Harold, we have reproduced a Limited Edition Set of 4 of his most successful lures and color patterns in Commemorative Boxes. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of Trout Master fishing history...that began in 1948.

Stay hooked-up with us!

Limited Edition Group ONLY 2,500 SETS

$49.99

All Four Special Colors - In Commemorative Boxes Suggested Retail

ait Company, inC. 84 L&S | MayB2018

• 1415 East Bay DrivE • Largo, FLoriDa 33771 • PhonE: 727-584-7691 • Fax: 727-587-0784 • www. mirrrolure.com ADVERTORIAL

Frabill Conservation Series landing nets are equipped with premium features so you leave nothing to chance.

• • • • •

Proprietary Pow’r Lok™ Yoke System Stainless steel hardware Knotless crankbait netting Fish-friendly flat bottom designs Sizes and styles for every angler and species

FRABILL.COM

There’s a lot going inside a 4-Stroke engine.

Keep it protected with ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil. Available in Gallons or Quarts at a Suzuki Marine Dealer Near You.

RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.

ECSTAR. the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket when on the water and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of Ameria, Inc.

SZ_Ecstar_HorizHalf_WIP.indd 1

TSFMAG.com | 85 4/5/18 2:59 PM

DICKIE COLBURN

DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene

S ab i n e

Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.

Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com

86 | May 2018

Much of the year, the city of Orange is noted by folks traveling I-10 as little more than the final stop in southeast Texas before crossing the Sabine River into Louisiana. The town’s pre-dawn silence is punctuated only by the steady hum of dejected gamblers returning after a night of gaming in Lake Charles and shift-worker traffic.

The usual noise level had steadily escalated over the past month, however, as bass pros from all over the country made their way to the nearest boat launch to scout local waters every morning.

The Bassmasters Elite circuit was due back in town as were visiting spectators eager to get a glimpse of their favorite pro. I say, “was due back in town,” because as of this morning the tournament was postponed due to more flooding.

We awoke to a swollen river yet to crest following the most recent monsoon that forced the SRA to once again open eleven gates and generate 24-hours a day. Toledo Bend is a foot and a half above pool level and still hasn’t begun to recede!

The tournament is a godsend for the local economy, but the added boat pressure on the river only added to the woes of saltwater fishermen.

Having already been forced to fish the river and

bayous most days due to the wind, they were also forced to share the semi-protected water with the visiting bass fishermen.

Over the past two months, daily winds that all but eliminated everything but the southeast shoreline only added to the woes of anglers in search of trout, redfish and flounder. The more persistent folks were actually scratching out a few fish in spite of the wind, but this added glut of fresh water will make things even more difficult for an undetermined length of time.

The water clarity has been more akin to wet dirt than weak coffee, but even at that we caught just enough of a break the first week of March to discover that there were indeed some big trout that refused to abandon the lake. The numbers, not surprisingly, weren’t there, but we caught several fish in the sevento eight-pound class. The first of two more rounds of flooding, however, quickly put an end to that bite.

Predicting what to expect this month and going into the summer is a crap shoot. We undoubtedly have more rain events to weather this time of the year and unbelievably for friends that are yet to get back in their homes following Harvey, another hurricane season is right around the corner.

Big trout still alive and well on Sabine.

There is, however, a silver lining in all of this doom and gloom. The fear of having lost most of our big trout has been allayed and the fish occupying the lake have not been pressured at all for a long time.

Flooded marshes and higher lake levels have also provided safe haven for crabs, shrimp and baitfish.

With the exception of the anglers walking the rocks on the north revetment wall, the entire west side of the lake has gone virtually untouched. As the water clears up a little and the salinity increases, the bite on the shallow flats bordering the Intracoastal should just explode. Both the trout and redfish will follow baitfish moving out of the deeper water.

The drains and bayous on the east side of the lake will light off first and deservedly so as more baitfish exit the marsh on every outgoing tide. The shoreline bordering Willow Bayou, Johnsons Bayou and Coffee Ground Cove are always the first areas to clear up, thus providing good choices for starting your day. The ship channel south of the Causeway will see the improved catching first, compliments of saltier water and baitfish pouring in from the Gulf, but that is no secret and the fishing pressure often gets ridiculous.

I seldom get locked in to fishing one particular color or style of plastic, but I have done just that recently and caught fish in spite of the miserable conditions. I have caught both trout and redfish on the toughest of days swimming a bone diamond five-inch rattail Assassin on an 1/8-ounce head. Aside from the fact that it has always been a reliable bait, I am convinced that the lack of water clarity is the reason it has worked so well of late.

Every trip with the kids is even more fun when you enter them in the CCA STAR tournament!

TSFMAG.com | 87

CAPT. CALEB HARP

THE BUZZ on Galveston Bay

Galve s t o n

Capt. Caleb Harp has fished the Galveston Bay System since childhood and, now a charter captain and fishing guide, he uses his knowledge to enable clients to enjoy the excellent fishing the area offers. His specialty is the yeararound pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures

Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com

2018-TX-TSL-redfish.pdf

The month of May can be a great time to fish in the Galveston Bay complex. The frustrating spring transition is finally behind us and the fish’s feeding and movement patterns become easier to predict.

The cold fronts finally stop as well, providing fewer

weather disturbances and more stable tide levels and water clarity.

Once our water temperatures begin to hover around the 75-degree mark for several days in row, the daily drifting option will begin to come into play.

For most of this spring, wade fishing has been Tony Muscat found the reds biting during a recent essential in producing shoreline wade-fishing trip. a good mess of fish and primarily the only way to catch anything of real quality. The rising of the water temperatures and stable weather patterns that come with May will pull the greater percentage of our trout off the shorelines and drifting over structure will become the key to finding steady action.

The Galveston Bay complex is in a

Tidal Surge...A Texas Original Series!

— Ask for Tidal Surge at YOUR favorite tackle supplier — Maniac Mullet - Slow Sink

Weight: 5/8 oz., Length: 4-1/2” 15 Color Options

Maniac Mullet - Fast Sink

Weight: 3/4 oz., Length: 4-1/2” 17 Color Options

Crazy Croaker

Weight: 5/8 oz., Length: 2-3/4” 15 Color Options

Split Tail Mullet

Length: 4-3/8” - 13 Color Options

TSL Jig Head

Sizes: 1/8 and 1/4 oz.

L&S Bait Company • 1415 East Bay Drive • Largo, Florida 33771 • Tel 727-584-7691 • www.mirrolure.com

88 | May 2018

rebuilding process. Without repeating everything that has happened to our bay since Hurricane Ike, the drought and the repeated flooding, our bay has suffered some extremely heavy blows. Often, a few of us guides get accused of griping and complaining too much about how we, “don’t have any fish.” But the fact of the matter is, we still have fish and quite a few. What we are missing nowadays is our traditional trout quality and that is what concerns us the most.

The bad days of trophy fishing are far worse than bad days used to be, and the good days don’t hold a candle to what we used to catch, size-wise, from this bay system. Just three to four years ago, it was not uncommon to catch several fish of five to six pounds each day, and there were opportunities to catch a trophy fish in the seven- to eight-pound class.

Sure, this bay is resilient and has had great comebacks from disasters. This bay has seen many hurricanes, freezes, droughts, floods and oil spills and has always bounced back. The concerning part now is how many fish are being pulled out of the bay on a daily basis and the amount and quality of habitat now available to them.

Changes in the fishing regulations would be a great step in creating a rebound but we don’t have to wait for the word to come down from Austin – we can begin the process ourselves.

More conservative bag limits are not required for guides and other anglers to practice more catch and release. Whackin’ and stackin’ and posting daily images of cleaning tables covered with fish on Facebook after each trip needs to go away. The sport of fishing is supposed to be about catching – not filleting!

In other news, the salinity levels and the bait availability foretell a good summer of fishing ahead. We are already seeing many different

signs of fish and different forage species coming in through our passes. May is the month when our tide-runner trout come into the bay from the gulf. We call them tide-runners because they chase the bait that is riding the tide through the passes and up and down the channels. The biggest part of the migration comes through the jetties and up the Houston Ship Channel, eventually reaching Trinity Bay. These fish are new recruits to our bay system each summer and can be a great boost to the overall population whenever native stocks are in decline, as they have been recently. Fishing near the passes and along channels to intercept this migration will be a key part of consistent fishing success during May. While drift-fishing, soft plastic lures are generally going to be your best choice for attracting numbers of strikes. My favorite soft plastic for drifting is the Lil’ Jon by MirrOlure and I believe its aerodynamic shape contributes to the erratic darting action that draws reaction strikes from fish that ignore other lures.

Quite often when drifting we see paddletails producing more consistently than rattails and this is when the MirrOlure Soft Shad and the Marsh Minnow come into play. Here lately, while fishing in shallow water, I have been throwing these baits on tiny 1/16-ounce jigheads and my personal favorite is the Bass Assassin Pro Elite series. Very seldom do I ever throw anything heavier than 1/8-ounce heads; the main exception being along the Ship Channel or other areas that have consistently stronger tidal currents. Don’t fight it; tie on a 1/4-ounce (or heavier) and put it in their face.

Let’s enjoy and appreciate the fishing!

Follow our catches on Instagram @captcalebharp and @harpsguideservice.

“We contracted the construction of the TSFMag office building with Farrell Jackson. Jackson also built my son’s bay house here in Seadrift. We were completely satisfied with both projects…a professional and trustworthy contractor.” ~ Everett Johnson Editor/Publisher, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine

361-576-3825 Office | 361-576-3828 Fax 36 Hunters Circle, Victoria, TX 77905

Barndominiums • Metal Buildings • Boat and Mini Storage • Metal Frame Homes • Commercial Buildings

www.RafterJConstruction.com A previous owner of Circle J Enterprises, Inc.

TSFMAG.com | 89

BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

M ata go r d a

We will be shedding the waders, chunking topwaters and hopefully working the surf and jetty this May in Matagorda. Tides tend to run higher than normal this time of year and that gives us more water to fish. This excites me.

When prime aquatic real estate like reefs become

Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.

Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net Website matagordasunriselodge.com

submerged with fresh saltwater tides, species like speckled trout and redfish gravitate to the structure and potential is limitless. Find a piece of shell, basically any reef structure in Matagorda, and chances are there are fish lingering nearby.

Bloated tides coupled with southeast winds raise water levels nearly a foot and waders who enjoy good catches concentrate tight to the shorelines or relocate to shorelines in the back lakes this month. That means you can go out and find fishable water, even with late-spring winds trending toward 20-mph.

Large areas of shell like Oyster Lake, Crab Lake, Shell Island, Twin Islands and smaller reefs along the south shoreline of West Bay are great spots in the wind. In East Bay, the Chinquapin Reefs, Boggy Reef and reefs in Lake Austin hold May fish. Never forget the ICW,

u

Between Yo

and the

Fish! best gloves

r!

on the wate

GUIDE GLOVE SERIES

FIND A RETAILER NEAR YOU www.fishmonkeygloves.com 90 | May 2018

where a well-run trolling motor allows lure chunkers consistent shots at fish holding along drop-offs in 2- to 8-feet of water.

The mid-bay reefs in East Matagorda Bay really start to hold fish in May. If the middle of the bay is green with an incoming tide, you better get wet. I can’t tell you how many large trout have come from these reefs.

If anglers are reluctant to get out of the boat, all that scattered shell in the middle of East Bay holds just as many big trout and

redfish. Some days they school and other days you have to hunt for them. You would be surprised how many huge trout are caught out of the boat by Matagorda captains. You don’t always see them at the cleaning table, thanks to conservation-minded attitudes, but there are some long specks that hit soft plastics, Gulps, and live shrimp under a popping cork.

Sand and grass along the south shoreline of West Bay will consistently hold solid trout and redfish this month. Glass minnows, mullet and shrimp flood the grassbeds and the fish thump topwaters better than any month of the year.

Another bright spot this month could be the surf. If the past three Mays are any indication, light north winds early in the month allow the surf to run green to the beach with the morning’s incoming tide. Trout to five pounds and more redfish than you can handle can be expected, especially around the jetty. We toss Bass Assassins, Down South Lures and MirrOlure Soft-Dines, but a live shrimp free-lined along the rocks really gets rocked.

We like to use our trolling motors along the jetty by tossing soft plastics tight to the rocks. Live-shrimp rigged about four-feet deep under a Mid-Coast popping cork normally produces many trout in the 3- to 5-pound class as well. We don’t discount topwaters at the jetty, either. Small Super Spooks get eaten with a little patience.

Follow our catches on Facebook and Instagram and weekly on the Texas Insider Fishing Report on Fox Sports Southwest.

TSFMAG.com | 91

CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY

MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays A couple of nights ago Gary and I were talking about our day on the water with clients. Going over the usual high and low points; weather and water conditions, mishaps, and what the bite was like for the clients we were fishing. As usual, we both agreed that most times

Port O'Connor Seadrift

Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area full time for the past 16 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com Facebook @captsgaryandshelliegray

92 | May 2018

I always look forward to fishing with Mark and Sheri Schmitt because of their wonderful, optimistic attitude.

we feel as if we are only as good as the weather allows us to be. We also covered how frustrating it can get when clients book us to learn more about fishing our area and then fail to follow the tips and instructions we give them. Luckily, this doesn’t happen very often but when it does it is very irritating to say the least, and most times ends up being more fishing and less catching. In this article I’m going to go over some of those tips so that you the readers can hopefully put them to use and help improve your fishing techniques and success. #1 - Attitude. Remind yourself to be open-minded and optimistic throughout the day. It seems to never fail that of all my clients the most optimistic anglers come ready to learn and usually catch the most fish.

It’s always a happy day when I get to fish with my mom!

The owner of Diamond J, James Rosalis, was a partner in Circle J Enterprises at the time our office and son’s home were built by Circle J. Workmanship and attention to detail were both excellent!

– Everett Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine

Even when fishing is slow, the angler that maintains a good attitude will have done the best at the end of the day. Also, be open-minded. Don’t assume you know everything. Pay attention to those around you and be willing to try new things even if you think you’ve seen it all. I’ve been fishing most of my life but I still try to keep an open mind to new lures and techniques. #2 - Don’t be the track star on wading trips. Inevitably, no matter how much I stress for clients to take their time and work an area thoroughly, there will be one guy who thinks he’s running a race.

He takes off leaving everyone behind and walks through everyone else’s projected path as he goes.

An hour or so later, after we have caught up to him (or he’s ran out of water) those that took their time, worked the area in front of them thoroughly before proceeding forward, always catch more fish. So, slow it down and never wade across another angler’s line.

3# - The indecisive angler. This is the angler who thinks he needs to change lures every ten casts when he’s not catching fish. Many times I have anglers frustrated when they aren’t catching fish and their buddies are. Instead of changing lures, watch your buddies and imitate what they are doing. Most often it’s the way a lure is presented than the lure itself. #4 - Be quiet. Make as little noise as possible while wading and also when drifting. This is especially true on calm, near-windless days. If you’re wading, do so slowly and quietly, try not to splash around too much. If you can hear yourself wading, then you are probably wading too fast.

And keep your voice to a low level. Don’t shout or talk loudly to one another. If you’re on the boat, don’t slam lids on storage compartments or ice chests. Walk quietly as you move around. Wear soft-soled shoes to help reduce sound of footsteps. #5 - Pack your patience and lots of it. Most days we are fortunate enough to catch plenty of fish but there will always be slow days, no matter how hard you try or where you are fishing. We all dread those slow days but if you’ve fished long enough you know it’s bound to happen. Instead of fishing through an area as fast as you can when the fish aren’t cooperating, try making longer drifts and/or wades. Be thorough, too. Make sure you are fan casting all around you and not just straight ahead (unless you’re on a crowded boat when it’s impossible to cast anywhere but straight ahead).

I know some of you anglers may already be aware of most of these tips, but I also know that there are many more that can benefit from them. These five simple but very important suggestions can make all the difference between catching or just fishing.

On May 13 we will celebrate Mother’s Day and I would like to send out a big “Thank You” to my mom, Sandy Zimmer. You are my greatest role model and my best friend. I would not be who I am today without your love and guidance. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you more!

TSFMAG.com | 93

DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey Remembering Billy Upper Laguna/ Ba f f i n

David Rowsey has over 25 years in Baffin and Upper Laguna Madre; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty.

David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.

Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com @captdavidrowsey

94 | May 2018

March 30, 2018; I was thigh-deep in Baffin when a text message arrived from good friend, Aaron Baxter.

I met Aaron through Capt. Billy Sandifer and Dr. David McKee. It read, “Just wanted to let you know that Billy passed away this morning.”

I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I had visited him that Tuesday and he wanted me to make some new CDs to listen to (he loved a good ballad) while trying to stay comfortable with his cancer diagnosis. I told him I would have them by the weekend but never got the chance. He passed that Friday morning.

I met Billy in 2003 through Mike McBride. They were heading down the beach for a play day and Mike graciously invited me along, as he knew I wanted to meet and fish with the Padre Island legend.

Luckily, I got the front seat next to Billy going down and coming back. He gave Mike nine kinds of hell that day, and I laughed at his cuts on Mike and stories all day. Little did I know my time was coming to be on the receiving end of Billy’s whip-like tongue of truths and brutal humor. I learned many things about Billy over the next fifteen years, and realized early on, if

you were the target of his wit it meant he loved you.

He must have loved me a lot.

In all seriousness, Billy never had any kids, but he had a handful of young men he called “his boys.”

I realized I was one of them about a year into our friendship when he began signing his emails as, “Dad.” I felt extremely honored that he thought of me and our relationship in this way.

Everyone knows Billy was the king of beach fishing, but something y’all may not know is that he loved bay fishing as well. I was in the heart of my tournament fishing career when we met, not yet guiding. Billy was the only man I would allow to accompany me when pre-fishing an event. I knew our bond was so tight he would never let even the name of a bay system slip his lips.

Billy loved those ventures as we usually caught big trout at my best spots. One day in Nueces, I pulled up to a favorite area that was just jammed with bait.

I was quick out of the boat while Billy was going through his lure color ritual and being slow about it.

My second cast I caught a 6-pound trout and started ribbing Billy about being so slow. My fourth cast brought a 7-pounder. Billy was still in the boat.

I released her and rolled back onto the Dad holds court in deck of the boat, when his chambers of the executive office. he asked, “Why the hell are you getting back on the boat?” I answered, “We’re done here. I know they’ll be here on Saturday and I’m not gonna sore-mouth ‘em.”

Heading to another spot, I thought he was going to break his dentures in half, cussing me as I cranked the engine. All day and the rest of our lives together he never let up about it.

Another time we went incognito in his flats skiff. We did all we could do for the day on trout and he wanted to catch something on his fly rod. I was poling him around a great looking area when I spotted a red – 15 yards at 1:00.

He spotted it right away and just as he was getting into his first backcast I told him to stay still. He fired me a glare from hell and I said, “Look at all the big trout around you.” We were both in awe.

All we had seen was the red but there must have been nearly 40 trout in front of us from 6- to 8-pounds, (no exaggeration). By the time we realized what was going on they were onto us and hitting their evac route. We caught none of them, but closely monitored their movement from the poling tower. I would use the lessons learned that day to win a high-dollar tourney a year later.

Billy and I went back a week after the tourney and had a field day.

I never took the time to learn to fish the beach correctly until Billy came into my life. Of course, he was the master of surf fishing and built his early reputation on sharks. By the time I met him he had a new first love on the beach, and that was trout. That being my own passion I felt like I had hit the lotto.

Imagine being a young man, eat up with catching trout, and now being trained by a living legend. I was so blessed to ride up and down that beach with him as he pointed out formations of sandbars – why one was a sweet spot and the other was no good. I was blessed to do that with him so many times that I lost count.

He would share his knowledge of Mother Ocean, the wrecks that always produced, and the name off all the flora and birds on the beach. He showed me old shipwrecks washed up in the dunes, told stories of animals, ghosts, hearing Indian flutes in the night, where old friend’s ashes were spread, and wow me with his philosophical side. The impression he made on me was like no other and I am so glad he thought of me like a son.

One day, coming off the beach, his bouncy old Suburban rocked me to sleep. I woke up and said, “I’m ready to get home.”

Billy looked at me and said, “Kid, someday you’ll realize that you’ve been home all day. Right now you’re just going back to the house.” He was so right.

RIP “Dad.” -Capt David Rowsey

THE

SOURCE ULTIMATE FOR THE

CUSTOM ROD

1000’S OF BLANKS, COMPONENTS AND TOOLS TO CHOOSE FROM!

FEATURING

OFFSHORE TO INSHORE, BASS TO REDFISH, EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE ULTIMATE CUSTOM ROD! SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION:

RELOCATED

10303 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77024 713-827-7762 12800 Gulf Fwy 13831 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77034 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-481-6838 281-201-2141

TSFMAG.com | 95

WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Port Mansfield

Captain Wayne Davis has been fishing the Lower Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes in wade fishing with lures.

Telephone 210-287-3877 Email captwayne@kwigglers.com

Greetings from Port Mansfield! Fishing has been good the past month but not quite as consistent as I expected.

Example: I had a great group of guys one day and after a full day’s grind we were only able to wrangle in one slot redfish. We were in the “right spots” but the fish were not responding.

I believe there are days when fish do not eat; they lie low for whatever reason and absolutely refuse to take a lure. So, believing this, I felt it imperative to fish the following day. My guys were very understanding regarding the tough day we’d just put in and met that reality square in the face with the attitude of, “Hey, that’s just fishing.” But I was not satisfied.

Truth be told, I was quite stern in insisting they go out with me again the next day. It was akin to pulling teeth, but I knew, or at least prayed, there would be a shift in fish feeding behavior.

Working that hunch gave us four trout the next morning longer than 25-inches, some of which were longer than my arm. Heck, one of the guys scored a personal best. Best of all they

Erin wrangles a nice red that fell for a Willow Tail Shad.

in

A R G

.1 No

E K R L A W SS

ter d Oys n a ss Gra

 Weedless

 Long Casting

 Slow Sink

 Walk the Dog

 US Made

 Tough Also Available at: Salt Swag - Bay City Anglers Anonymous - Katy Mathews Reel Repair - S.A. Hook Line & Sinker - Harlingen

troutsupport.com 96 | May 2018

were learning to use artificial lures, including topwaters. Awesome to see these guys capitalize on lure fishing with the fish responding accordingly.

Tide levels have risen about eightto ten-inches recently which has broadened the bay just a bit. In my opinion, fish may not move far when water rises but I do think they have to acclimate to the change. Some spread a bit, but I don’t think they initially move too far.

We are throwing topwaters in the morning and sticking with them so long as fish are responding. Always remember there is no reason to change any lure so long as you are catching fish – except perhaps as an experiment. However, having said that, when surface action fades I am not in the least shy to tie on a KWigglers Willow Tail or 4-inch Paddle Tail, if still fishing shallow.

If fishing deeper, say thigh deep or greater, I’ll likely opt for the Ball Tail Shad. Best colors have been Red Shad Pro, Bone Diamond, Darren McGuire Strawberry-White, and Flo Mingo. notched a personal best trout on a On a side note: I have recently recent fishing trip. switched the rear hooks on my topwaters. I now use a single on the rear but stick with the treble at the front. It is easier on the fish to remove a single hook, especially if they hit it from behind and end up being hooked deep. Again, just my opinion, but I began this during the winter with slow-sinking soft plugs.

I had the pleasure recently to fish Belize with my buddy Captain Ernest Cisneros, targeting snook and tarpon. We fished backwater rivers, flats, and everywhere in between. I was a guide on a guided trip and I must say I learned a lot. And, for the record, I was vague about my occupation when it came up with the captain. I learned to listen closely, pay attention to what was being said, and accept that the guide knew more than I did in his home waters. Now, in full disclosure mode, I did exactly what the guide told me to do, including casting accuracy that would make the best bass angler envious. However, at the end of the day, I never had even one bump. Captain Ernest was able to hook and land a sizable tarpon during the last 15 minutes of the trip. I filmed and narrated the action. Good job Captain Ernest!

Let me end this article by giving my opinion on Texas fisheries – especially here at Port Mansfield. This small strip of shallow water that parallels the Gulf of Mexico is the best fishery I have ever encountered.

Granted, I have not fished a lot of countries or many other bodies of water, but I have fished a few from Texas to Florida and Mexico, and my most recent outing to San Pedro, Belize. I hear from credible anglers from other places who say we have something here in the Lower Laguna comprised of special and incredible. Flats that go on forever, grass beds virtually untouched, and sandy bottoms without boot tracks. In addition, we have trophy speckled trout, reds, snook and flounder – all within sight-casting range. These places I have visited may have a little bit of each but not all that I have described in one narrow strip of water. Let us all take care of it by considering conservation every chance we get.

Until next time, good fishing and be safe and courteous on the water.

TSFMAG.com | 97

CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene Arr o y o C ol o ra d o t o Po rt I sa bel

A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel.

Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.

Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com

We have just passed what I believe to have been the most brutal month of the year. By brutal I mean the windiest thus far. During springtime, winds reaching 25- to 35-mph daily are to be expected, and our game plans are formulated accordingly.

Instead of fishing favorite spots, we are forced into areas that have favorable fishing conditions. I wish I could say that our recent fishing has been superb; instead, it has been quite unpredictable due to the daily strong winds and high tides. Then, throw in a full moon period and you have yourself a very challenging day on the water.

I remember several years back the wind howled straight into July. I hope this is not the case this year. I can put up with rain, thunderstorms, and cold weather but windy conditions I cannot stand.

It can get frustrating when all you see is chocolate water across the entire bay. Part of fishing is being able to communicate and carry a conversation. Well, when the wind is blowing 25-35 mph; it’s hard to hear each other when you’re 10 feet away, much less when you’re wading 25 yards apart.

We’re still not out of the woods as far as windy conditions. If it’s an average year, the winds should

Happy to have been part of Freddy Cisneros landing his personal-best snook.

FREE SHIPPING - ORDERS OVER $99 NO OVERSIZE CHARGE ON BLANKS* WWW.MUDHOLE.COM/START * UNDER 9’ IN LENGTH

98 | May 2018

PHOTO: TYLER WOOLCOTT

begin to subside by the third week of May, while the water on the skinny flats is still cool enough to find fish all day long – one of the reasons I consider May to be one of the best months for redfish. Last May our big trout catches also increased dramatically.

Redfish have been playing Houdini the last few weeks; just when you think you have them figured out they disappear. Part of the difficulty has been higher than normal tides. We have been relying on prior knowledge of where they are likely to be this time of year and the presence of bait.

When chasing redfish, keep in mind that the bay holds lots of shrimp in springtime.

Redfish love shrimp and shrimp prefer muddy bottoms.

The back-bay areas on the west side have plenty of I enjoy AFTCO’s quality fishing gear and admire that. Windier late-afternoon their commitment to and early-evening hours can conservation – CPR! provide excellent bird action over redfish as the shrimp become active in the wind-stirred, murky water. (They’re usually most active in darkness.)

With already elevated tides likely to rise even higher, look for the east side sand flats to hold more reds than they have all year. Suggested baits are weedless gold spoons, K-Wiggler’s Ball Tails and Willow Tails in Turtle Grass and Mansfield Margarita, and my all-time favorite; Plum-Chartreuse.

Small topwaters always deserve a try when shrimp are seen skipping on the surface.

Our big trout catch ratio has dipped a bit since February and March, but don’t give up on them just yet. Last year in May we caught trout in the trophy class and continued catching them well into June. The high caliber trout will most likely not be concentrated with other trophies as they were in the colder months, but if they haven’t dropped their eggs, expect them to be heavy.

A topwater worked across shallow grassy flats early in the morning, or right up against a spoil island, will undoubtedly attract something of size if it’s there. Look for potholes in the area and bring your surface lure across the edges of sandy areas where fish like to lie in ambush.

As far as keeper-sized trout and little ones, they seem to be in most all the places we fish. If numbers are what you are after, I suggest you fish near the ICW or the deeper pockets of the bay.

Plastic baits like the K-Wiggler Bail Tail Shads in Plum/Chart, Flo-Mingo, and Mansfield Margarita are great producers in depths ranging 3- to 6-feet. I like to throw a Willow Tail Shad in the new Turtle Grass color, Mansfield Margarita, and Bone Diamond in depths less than 3-feet.

May should be a great month here on the Lower Laguna, provided the wind will lie down. Look for the two tide days to be your better ones to fish and don’t forget the new moon phase includes the most feeding activity during daylight hours. May also marks the beginning of the tournament season, which means our waters will be quite a bit busier than usual. We all share the same water so be extra courteous to your fellow anglers. When boat traffic is especially busy I look to the evening hours when there is less traffic and less pressure on the fish.

Regardless of wind or no wind, best fishing to you!

TSFMAG.com | 99

FISHING REPORTS

Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 May is looking to have great potential as of now. The water is clearing up nicely, and things should be right on schedule for May. Baitfish are very prolific this year, and we expect the trout to be as well. Schools of fish will be roaming the lake and targeting them under working birds will again be the norm. Oyster reefs will still be productive, but can be inconsistent at times, due to the fish constantly moving. Consequently, focusing on finding the birds is sometimes the most productive way to catch numbers of fish. Big trout fishing at this time is excellent. Look for them on sand flats on incoming tides. Topwaters work great this time of year, particularly for locating fish. Often, trout will strike at topwaters, but won’t take them well enough to get hooked. If this happens too often, a switch to other lures makes good sense. Try a jig or put on a suspending lure. Usually, one or the other will produce more caught fish. Redfish will roam the middle of the lake, looking for easy meals, and they are typically easy to catch on just about any lure.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James mentions good options in various parts of the Galveston Bay system for the month of May. “In my home area, fishing around San Luis Pass generally produces some good catches of both trout and redfish this month. Catching in that area is best when winds aren't too strong and the tide is flowing, but not so strong that it mucks up the shallow flats. Too much current will wreck the bite. Wading places like Campbell's Bayou and around Sand and Pelican Islands can produce epic catches in May. Folks who don't like to wade can sometimes do just about as good by targeting their fish under birds and slicks. Topwaters like ShePups and Spook Juniors work great, especially when the fishing is done by wading. Of course, soft plastics like Bass Assassin Sea Shads and others work better for people who don't want to work as hard at making a heavy lure dance side to side on every cast. Sometimes, just throwing a paddletail out and reeling it straight back in produces best.

Experimenting with speed of retrieve is critical.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 As is always the case, the catching in Galveston depends on the weather.

“In the windy months of spring, we have the best luck on the calmest days, when more options are available to us. You can choose to wade on the calmer days, but you can also fish out in the middle, or stay in the marshes and have better water quality and better control of the boat. We've been experiencing some good fishing on the better days lately. Moving water is critical to a good bite, like always. Places around Rollover Pass and close to the jetties have been producing great catches of trout when conditions are right. Redfish have been schooling and mudding out in the middle of East Bay, and we've had birds working over small trout some of the time too. Wading in the back of the bay in the shallows along the shorelines has produced some pretty big trout for folks throwing topwaters and twitch baits, and this is a proven way to catch some of the biggest trout in our bays during the month of May, especially on strong, incoming tides in the mornings.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323

By May, many of the pelagic species will have already arrived in the 100 | May 2018

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

San Luis Pass area, Randall says, but this year, late cold fronts stalled the migrations right around the time of this report. “These harsh fronts rolling through have kept me and my customers pinned to the dock more than usual over recent weeks. We should lose fewer days in May, when the winds typically calm down some and fronts usually become much less frequent. We should also see a thinning out of the trillions of tiny shad, and that should make it easier to get the attention of predators who have been filling up on them recently. Lately, our best catching has been on Norton Sand Eels in chicken on a chain rigged on three-eighths-ounce jigheads when the fish are holding close to the bottom and not biting aggressively. When they are more active, we're doing better with a Norton Bull Minnow rigged on either a quarter or eighth-ounce jighead, which allows us to flutter the soft plastic in the middle and upper parts of the water column.”

Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service - 713.725.2401 Both of the bays in the Matagorda area have been producing nice catches lately, Charlie reports. “All of the reefs, and we have more of them than ever before, in West Bay have been holding good numbers of two to four pound trout, for folks who want to fish out of the boat.

People interested in going after the big trout will be better off wading in East Bay, either on the mid-bay reefs when winds are light, or along the shorelines if it's windier. Of course, this month the potential for catching in the surf and at the jetties picks up considerably. When winds calm down, and/or blow offshore, casting topwaters in the first gut along the beach at daylight or close to the rocks when tides swirl around the jetties can produce easy limits of trout, sometimes with big ones thrown in as a bonus. As in all months, catching fish in the Matagorda area means paying attention to the weather and adjusting location.

The month of May offers plenty of ripe opportunity for big trout and numbers of both trout and redfish in various places.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 We're in full-blown spring mode, with lots of topwater action and bays filling up with bait. Redfish have been biting steadily on area shorelines.

We're following schools of shad and mullet down the banks. White and pink SkitterWalks have been the best topwaters, and we've had some epic blowups from hungry fish. Trout have been out a bit deeper, over shell and have been eating topwaters too. Solid shell bottoms in three to five feet of water have been holding specimens to 26 inches. Flounder have made their way back to the bays, and we've been picking up a few slot fish on our live-bait trips. Black drum have been plentiful over shell reefs on fresh dead and live shrimp under popping corks. May is a great month, with lots of productive areas in our local waters to fish. The deep reefs and shell pads will hold good trout as water temperatures increase, reds will start schooling over grass flats and the tripletail will move into the bays to hang around visible structures, so it's an awesome month to fish just about anywhere!

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Fishing in the Port O'Connor area should be good in the middle of spring, Lynn predicts. “We'll be working main bay shorelines, targeting big trout in sandy potholes creating bright spots in the grass beds. We'll use slow-sinking twitch baits like MirrOlure SoftDines and SoftDine XLs,

Science and the

Sea

TM

Parrotfish Farmers Protect Coral Farmers don’t typically grow crops on all of their land simultaneously – they rotate crops and leave some land fallow so soil can recover and remain fertile. It turns out some herbivorous reef fish also understand not to over-harvest their food. They give it time to recover, which benefits them as well as the coral on which their food grows.

A steephead parrotfish. Credit: Nick Hobgood, GNU Free Documentation License This discovery began when scientists’ observed partially eaten patches of algae – the preferred food of parrotfish – on dead coral skeletons on the Palmyra atoll, about 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. Scientists continued observing these bald spots over time and saw steephead parrotfish gorging on one small patch of algae. But the parrotfish moved on to another patch of algae before wiping out the first spot. In fact, the fish did not return to that first patch until more algae grew back, and they defended it against other grazing critters, giving the algae time to recover. This same algae is usually toxic to juvenile coral. So, when parrotfish scrape away the algae, they create an algae-free spot where new coral larvae can survive and grow.

But overfishing has reduced parrotfish populations. Researchers therefore tracked parrotfish movements over several years, hoping to gather information to help develop effective conservation strategies.

Biologists learned for the first time that parrotfish travel up to a kilometer from their feeding grounds, most likely to spawn offshore. Knowing how far parrotfish range from their feeding area helps researchers determine how much space around a reef requires protection for conservation. But scientists don’t need to worry as much about conserving the algae since the parrotfish help with that.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

TSFMAG.com | 101

making long casts and working them slowly through the potholes with lots of erratic action, pausing to allow them to become an easy target from time to time. We'll do the same drill along some of the shorelines in the back lakes too, except in there, we often throw at grass beds and patch reefs, instead of targeting potholes in the grass. Lately, catching redfish has been a bit easier than catching trout. In May, fishing for reds can be outstanding. We like to fish the main bay shorelines adjacent to drains leading into the back lakes, particularly when outgoing tides sweep out of the lakes into the deeper basins. On different days, one of these three drills usually produces well. Sometimes all three of them do, so it's a great time to fish this area.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake expects to be doing many of the same things he's been doing recently once May rolls around. “We are fishing sandy, grassy shorelines, staying pretty shallow most of the time, throwing a lot of topwaters.

The bite has been pretty steady on most trips on chrome/black versions of the SkitterWalks, both the Baby and full-sized ones. The trout bite has been good on moving tides when winds aren't too strong. Fishing for reds has been best in shallow areas around the drains connecting backwater lakes to the main bays. They bite the topwaters well on some occasions, but soft plastics like the split-tail shad Gulp! products and spoons produce more bites on other days. The topwater bite this month is normally about as good as it gets, and we usually catch some of the bigger, spawning trout on them. If winds are favorable, the surf normally becomes consistent this month too. Folks venturing to Cedar Bayou should exercise extreme caution these days, since the area was dramatically altered by Hurricane Harvey.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 The weather during May usually produces good fishing and typically, the catching is also consistently better as the month progresses. This is a spawning period for trout, so they will be very aggressive when they are feeding. The topwater action will be great during May, so use your favorite natural-colored MirrOlure SheDogs or TopDogs and retrieve them at different speeds until you start getting some hits. If you are getting blow-ups without hooking up, switch to a smaller topwater or use a suspending lure like the MirrOlure Catch 5. These will work as long as there is not too much floating or suspended grass. Bass Assassin Die Dappers in colors like sand trout and salt & pepper/chartreuse or the new Salty Snacks in colors like pumpkinseed/chartreuse and plum/chartreuse rigged on sixteenth-ounce jigheads will also be good options. Live croakers will be available in May, and free-lining them on a #3 Mustad Croaker Hook will catch a lot of trout. Make sure to use about 20 inches of fluorocarbon line as a leader for all of these baits and lures.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 A light case of brown tide has moved into some of the area over the last month, Joe says, but catching remains steady and should continue right through the spring. “We usually adjust to an emerging brown tide by focusing our efforts up north, where the water remains clear. Up here, we can expect to sight-cast schools of reds early in the mornings, by locating them as they push wakes while we drive by. Later in the day, we can usually throw at singles or small pods of reds in the shallows, sometimes drum and big trout too. If and when we venture further south, into areas where the water isn't as clear, we adjust by throwing lures with rattles or soft plastics with paddletails, which provide vibration and help the fish locate them more easily. Sandy, grassy areas in Baffin and along both sides of the ICW south of there have been holding good numbers of medium-sized trout and upper-slot reds, with 102 | May 2018

a few bigger trout in the mix. The same kinds of areas should produce well in May, as should some of the prominent rock formations. The west ledge of the Land Cut should continue producing great fishing for black drum.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins May’s surf is known to provide explosive action from a variety of species. Jack crevalle often storm the shallows during morning hours and will crush topwaters, swimbaits, and spoons.

Jacks and reds will readily take mullet. Speckled trout should also be available on topwaters and MirrOlures, with better quality and numbers farther south. Pompano, whiting, black drum and sheepshead will take fresh shrimp and Fishbites. Shark abundance will be greater than any month thus far this year. Blacktip, bull, scalloped hammerhead, and half a dozen others prowl the shallows when bait is concentrated. Though nothing beats fresh stingray or jackfish for shark bait, whole whiting and pompano are the best hammerhead baits.

The biggest bull sharks of the year are typically caught from the beach during May as they come in close, dropping pups. Larger sharks will be in the surf preying upon southern and roughtail stingrays. Waders beware – stingrays will be plentiful. Higher than normal tides and sargassum can complicate beach driving.

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 May weather is generally favorable, apart from the odd late norther and Port Mansfield’s famous afternoon wind. Waters north and south of East Cut hold lots of fish this month. Start early with a Spook Junior or Baby SkitterWalk, especially around oysters south of the Cut. I prefer stronger hooks than the factory stuff. Anywhere you find bait along the west shoreline is another solid morning option. The edges of old oil-field cuts on the east side produce some really nice redfish and trout in earlymorning. When surface action fades, I'm quick to tie on an eighth-ounce jig with a KWiggler Ball Tail--Mansfield margarita or Lagunaflauge.

Later in the day, I hit the east-side sand flats for sight-casting reds and occasional large trout. This is weedless spoon country, and gold works best. Small paddletails in natural colors also produce bites on these flats.

Don’t pass up a trip to the jetties when the wind allows; target diving gulls and pelicans, and bait balls on moving tides. Species range from trout and reds to kings, tarpon, and sharks – rig accordingly!

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty | www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 FP3 corks are nailing the trout. Despite high winds and murky water, we’re able to call fish to the hook with the splash and vibration created by popping the cork. Using the brightly colored Berkley Gulp! Live three-inch shrimp, usually pearl white or glow in the low light of early-morning, to get the attention of predators left on the flats after feeding the night before. As the sun gets overhead, we switch to darker colors or something with a chartreuse tail for contrast with the grassy bottom or deeper drop offs. Reds don’t usually care what you’re throwing when they’re feeding; however, when they are moving off the flats, you might need to pop hard two or three times, then let the cork remain still for five to ten seconds. Freddy says, “Sandy holes and depth changes are where hungry predators wait for the moving tide to sweep food out of hiding into the open where they can get at it.

Concentrate your efforts at the end of your cast; as far from the boat as possible and then reel in fast to keep the line tight and avoid knots.”

Let’s stop open bay dredge disposal.

TSFMAG.com | 103

Brody Hobson trout, first catch while wading!

Nick Jackson South Padre Island

Logan Schwartz Matagorda - 38" redfish CPR

Michael Durham 27” redfish with 37 spots 104 | May 2018

Cooper Pennington Galveston - first Spanish mackerel!

Cindy Rodriguez first redfish!

Lisa Bockholt Baffin Bay - 25” redfish

Noralva Martinez Pleasure Island - first flounder!

Eli St. John Galveston - 42” first bull red!

Troy Atwood Upper Laguna - 48+” red CPR

Nicholas Cottingham Galveston - 24” slot red

Jacob Duecy Matagorda - 36” redfish

Stephanye Gibson first slot reds

Jesse Reyes Matagorda - 28.5” redfish

Emma Kay Corpus Christi - first redfish! CPR

Jackson Welch Port O’Connor - 24” trout

Donnie Rogers Aransas Pass - 26” first redfish!

Cherie Landry Moses Lake - flounder

Azael Pulido Port Mansfield - first red!

Kymbery Brook Wise Baffin Bay - redfish

Rebekah & Michelle Gordon Baffin Bay - 22” & 25” first reds!

Arlette Pulido Port Mansfield - first trout!

Jeremiah Mitchell South Padre - 28” speckled trout

Matt Lankford Aransas Pass - 24” first redfish!

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com

Dana Dupree Galveston Island - redfish

John Quillin Matagorda Bay - 27” grouper

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 105

ADVERTORIAL

The Best Cat Hull

s xa Te F in

by Amy Sharp

ishing is in Dave Kveton’s blood.

“I’ve fished saltwater all my life,” says Dave. “At three, my dad would take me out to Port Bolivar in boats he built. My own son mastered the rod and reel by five. In 1995, I opened El Pescador Lodge in Port O’Connor so I could spend my days doing what I love best.”

But a boat ride with a friend in 1999 changed Dave’s career path. “It was the best ride I’d ever had,” says Dave. “So good in fact...I bought the company. (But don’t worry...I still find plenty of time for fishing!)”

Today El Pescador Boats offers the fastest

catamaran hull (cat hull) shallow water boat in it’s class. “There’s a lot of players in this space,” says Dave, “and we waited...looking at the good and the bad before we designed one ourselves. The hull is constructed with the most up-to-date composite available (no wood!) and it does it all. It runs shallow, comes up shallow, and it’s an extremely dry and comfortable ride. Even in 20-30 mph winds...you can fish. Just today I was running with my three anglers from Baffin Bay back to Flour Bluff in a northeast wind 25+ mph all the way. It was a fast, smooth and dry ride with a 2 ft chop and never got a drop of water on anyone.”

And these cats—favorites of professional guides, serious sports fishermen, and weekenders alike—aren’t mass produced.

They’re custom built. “Come in and we can put together a design, then build to your specifications. Choose your Evinrude E-TEC G2, pick a color (or two!)...then outfit as you wish. We can do power poles, GPS, stereo and trolling motors.” Have a new idea? “Show it to us and if it works...we’ll build it.”

Call Dave for a demo ride today and experience the best cat hull in Texas for yourself!

El Pescador Boats ~ Dave Kveton ~ 979-292-5144

www.elpescadorboats.com

106 | May 2018

ADVERTORIAL

Made in USA

w e N Walk where no other topwater has walked before!

Compact, durable and rattles, the PT-7’s aerodynamic body casts like a bullet, rattles like crazy and skips into tight places where others can’t. 3” length and 5/8 oz., this soft plastic minesweeper detonates explosive strikes like no other topwater on the market today. Seatrout, redfish, snook and largemouth bass find its “walk-the-dog” action simply irresistible. Pre-rigged with a single premium 7/0 EWG hook, it keeps big fish on where standard trebles fail.

Available in 12 realistic colors.

w w w. d o a l u r e s . c o m

171033_DOA_5.17_TxSF_3.685x4.875_BigTrout_PT7.indd 1

TSFMAG.com | 107

5/17/17 1:40 PM

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?

Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844

South Coast Crab Cakes I want to give special thanks to Joseph Massa of Massa's South Coast Grill for contributing this wonderful recipe. I greatly encourage that you visit South Coast Grill soon for some of the most delicious seafood you will ever experience.

Massa’s South Coast Grill – 1331 Lamar Suite 114 – Houston, Texas – 713-655-9100 – online at: massas.com Joe emphasizes that crab meat must be in season and fresh. That would be from now until October.

COMBINE FULLY IN MIXING BOWL

PREPARATION

1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 large egg beaten 1 tablespoon melted butter 1 tablespoon Creole mustard or whole seed Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon fresh chopped green onion 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1 teaspoon South Coast Creole Seasoning 1/4 Cup Panko bread crumbs

Gently fold in 1-pound fresh jumbo lump blue crab meat, taking care to avoid breaking up lumps.

Form mixture into ten, 2-ounce balls and flatten into cakes.

Sauté in pre-heated skillet on medium-low heat with butter, two minutes per side.

Serve with South Coast Grill Lemon Butter Sauce.

South Coast Grill Lemon Butter Sauce 1 tablespoon olive Oil 1/4 cup diced shallots 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup cold butter cubed 1 teaspoon South Coast Creole Seasoning

108 | May 2018

In heavy-bottom sauce pan over medium heat, sauté shallots in olive oil one minute.

Add lemon juice and reduce liquid for 1 minute. Add heavy cream and reduce liquid for 1 minute. Lower heat and whisk in butter a little at a time until just melted. Melting the butter and whisking should take about one minute. Remove from heat and stir in seasoning. Use sauce immediately or keep warm in a Bain Marie for up to one hour.

Note: Timing and heat control are crucial. Have all ingredients prepped before starting.

The goal is to emulsify the butter with the other liquids to make a creamy sauce.

Breaking the sauce, (not a good thing), is when the butter separates from the other liquid ingredients and the sauce appears oily. Overheating the sauce and not whisking in the butter at the end of the recipe is the main cause for this.

Baffin Bay House with Pier • 3 bed / 2 bath • New Roof • New Paint • Refurbished

$315,000 (361) 813-7477 alstonb7477@gmail.com

464 S. County Rd 1144 • Riveria Tx 78379

FOR SALE!

FOR SALE!

Kyle Nethery

Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300

805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901

Fax: 361.573.0304

TSFMAG.com | 109

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING HOLES GUIDE SERVICES M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish

USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 www.fishfcc.com

• Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705

Capt. Billy Penick III

USCG & TP&W Licensed • Galveston Bay System • Full and Half Day Trips • Trout, Redfish, Flounder

281-415-6586 www.gypsyguideservice.com penickbilly@yahoo.com

ON THE WATER

Saltwater Fishing Clinics WITH

Capt. Robert Zapata

If you are having difficulty catching fish on a consistent basis, the clinic is designed for you. Learn Capt.Robert Zapata’s secrets to finding and catching more fish from his 25 years of experience as a professional fishing guide.

For Information Call 361-563-1160

110 | May 2018

IF WE SAVE THE SEAGRASS, TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING HOLES

©JASON ARNOLD

CLASSIFIEDS

WE SAVE THE FISH. Seagrass is critical to good fishing. Marine organisms depend on it for survival—for food, shelter, and oxygen. But boat propellers are destroying Texas seagrass, which is seriously impacting saltwater fishing in the coastal shallows. When boaters do not lift their propeller in shallow water, the prop cuts and uproots the seagrass beds—leaving long barren trenches or “scars” that may take years to heal ... if ever.

Stop Prop Scarring – Lift, Drift, Pole, Troll

PROP SCARS

It is ILLEGAL in Texas to uproot seagrass with a propeller.

Avoid damaging seagrass – lift your prop!

When in shallow waters, lift your motor and drift, pole, or troll through it. After all, there’s nothing like a redfish on light tackle in shallow water. Let’s keep it that way!

For more information visit:

www.tpwd.texas.gov/seagrass

TSFMAG.com | 111

Mid-Tower Console

UNSINKABLE DESIGN 10 YEAR HULL WARRANTY DEALER NETWORK

“RIB CAGE” stringer system for greater strength & floatation.

A DIV ISION OF

956 -2 3 3 -9 4 8 9

www. scbbo at s .c om

J U S T A D D WAT E R

Jeff Bulman & Waterfront Living

TIKI ISLAND $1,200,000

BACLIFF $899,900

MORGAN’S POINT $849,900

BACLIFF $424,900

Whichever waterfront lifestyle you desire, Jeff Bulman can find it for you. Contact

Jeff Bulman Established 1967 JOHN DAUGHERTY, REALTORS

SOCIETY OF DISTINCTION

jeffbulman.com

Top Producer Society of Distinction Member Broker Associate Waterfront Properties Expert

281.450.8689 jeffb@johndaugherty.com

Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l

w w w. t e x a s s a l t w a t e r f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

100% composite 7 year hull warranty Our boats are designed and built to maximize horsepower efficiency, shallow water capability, quality of ride, and fish ability .

Come design the JH model that’s right for you!

3925 FM 359, Richmond, Texas 77406 • Ph: 281-238-0060

WWW.JHPERFORMANCEBOATS.COM